by Clark Bolton
The voices continued to argue loudly and it sounded like Berdtom was in the center of it. “O’t, it’s me I’m coming up!”
“Wait Berdtom … what is the name of my sister’s cat?”
“What?” Berdtom exclaimed as his voice drew nearer. “Ah … it’s ‘Tom’ of course!”
“Let him in, it’s Berdtom!” Autbek told the other two. Stepping back they all waited for Berdtom to enter.
Walking casually through the door Berdtom carried a scroll in his hand. He looked flushed and disheveled but produced a big grin at the sight of the three. “Thank the gods I got here quick enough!”
Autbek hugged the man and then they started with the questions. Answering a few Berdtom quieted everyone down finally and handing the scroll to Autbek announced, “You have been reinstated a second time as the Lord Vis Mage-Councilor, and as such you are the acting Lord Mage-Councilor. You may have guessed that Tenric is no longer in Astrum.”
“Huh! Reinstated again? I don’t understand was I removed while we hid?”
“Something like that, now I’ll fill you all in as soon as we rid ourselves of the Comusa. Now come, they have finally agreed that this writ you hold is valid and so they must yield to your authority here in the mages wing.”
The three followed Berdtom down the stairs, at the bottom they were greeted rather suspiciously by three heavily armed men, two were the Comusa and the third was the Inquisitor.
Speaking now in a loud formal voice Berdtom asked, “If I may act upon your authority, Lord Vis Mage-Councilor, I shall clear the area of soldiers.” Berdtom said this while looking at Gosom. Palace guards could also be seen now in the corridor, apparently ready to back up either Gosom or Autbek.
Autbek took a moment to think and then realized what was needed. “Yes, master Berdtom … umm … you are now in charge here. Please see to things!” He said it as loud as he could without yelling.
Berdtom sprang into action and soon had officers directing their soldiers to exit the mages wing and directing Gosom and his companions to follow. After several minutes the three apprentices and Berdtom managed to find a place to sit and try to quiet their racing hearts.
“Wow!” Was all Haspeth said for a while.
“Best get the Dieknotkow.” Castor reminded them.
The two lords spoke as they slowly walked the long hall leading to the court’s wing of the palace. Neither was in a hurry to reach their destination and both had questions for the other. Bek in particular wanted to know what reparations he could expect to receive from the Vis Mage-Councilor for his humiliating treatment the other day.
“If you’re wise you will forget about it.” Fesmbol told him. “There is only one competent mage left in all of Astrum since that foreigner was booted, and I want to be on his good side, understood?”
“Yes well then as soon as a replacement Mage-Councilor is found the bastard will have his comeup-ins!” Bek exclaimed.
“Don’t be so sure of that, and mind what you say about bastards.” Fesmbol replied with annoyance.“I used to be one of them. Now when Cachner brings up the subject of mages don’t mention my love of them nor your hated.”
“You would as well…you haven’t been turned into a Halfling.”
“A what?” Fesmbol asked with chuckle.
“A Halfling … one of those little people that live up north. Didn’t your nanny tell you tales of them or were you raised by wolves.”
“A kind of wolf…yes! Now don’t talk about the future royal family in that manner.” Fesmbol said with a smile as they stopped in front of Cachner’s suite of offices. “He’s expecting us.” He said nonchalantly to a scribe stationed nearby.
Cachner did not look happy to see them and offered neither a chair nor refreshments, leaving the two of them standing before his writing table impatiently. “Have you spoken with the Vis Mage-Councilor or any of his minders?” They were asked after a minute.
Fesmbol ignored the question and asked one himself instead. “Exactly, my lord, what is your title? Because I’m not at all sure which one of us should be seated?”
Cachner looked up from the documents he had been reading. “Bastard!” He said loudly. “I’m a huntsman of bastards!”
Bek chuckled with a smirk on his face causing Fesmbol to give him an icy glare before turning back to Cachner. “Well … takes one to hunt one … I would think.”
Cachner slapped his palm on the table. “I’m not one of your popinjay friends, Fesmbol! Now answer the question so I can be rid of you.”
“So this is where my two new brothers got their attitude from.” Fesmbol muttered. “Your precious mage and friends are holed up in the mages wing, and so no I’ve not spoken with them or this Berdtom that seems to trouble you so.”
“Trouble … yes!” Cachner scoffed. “And he should you as well…”
Chapter 14
Autbek let his horse graze on the nearly frozen grass that covered a series of mounds outside of the walls of Astrum. He had to get out for a while he had decided, just to get away from things for a time. It had been several weeks since his ex-master had sailed out of the harbor on a ship provided by the Earl, and though he had started teaching the blue-girls again things still seemed out of order.
With Berdtom’s, Castor’s, and Eifled’s help they had pieced together the events of the day Tenric had been forced from Astrum. Castor had been present at the contentious Inquisition where several times he reported that Tenric and the Comusa had nearly come to blows. Despite heavy support from some of the lords present, Tenric had been forced to concede his office largely due to his public failure to find or to identify the future fate of Astrum and of the Earl. As Eifled put it, “The court needed its sacrificial goat.”
How much the cost of the academy played into it Autbek wasn’t sure, but he had heard substantial rumors about the death of more than one academy supporter. Now that the Earl had agreed with the court and so cancelled the entire project, Autbek felt at least some weight lifted from his office. This combined with the arrival of the Earl’s other two sons along with nearly every other nobleman of Astrum, served to draw attention away from him and his apprentices.
He had come to terms with calling Haspeth, Castor and the three girls, apprentices of his now, though Neustus’s haunting words from that night in the cellar still left doubt about it in his mind. The entire court seemed now not to care much for them or the Vis Mage-Councilor, and even Fesmbol and Sema kept their distance, apparently being preoccupied by their father and brothers. The fact that he was the acting Mage-Councilor now, he hoped, also served to keep all in the mage wing isolated somewhat from court politics.
He would have gone riding alone if his friends had not insisted he take precautions, and so now two mounted guards wearing the livery of the Mage-Councilor’s office waited at a respectable distance. Autbek found it strange now that they considered him their commander, and found it hard to put the two at ease.
“Take a break! I’m just going to walk around a bit.” Letting his horse walk freely now, he walked toward the intersection of the Kings-road and Earls-way.
Kings-road ran close to the walls of Astrum and then continued further south to the bosphorus, the narrow channel that separates the Earldom from the southern part of Bene Aimont. The other road led from the Eastern Gate far into the interior of the Earl’s realm. It was here where he was walking now that the Summer Festival had been held upon his arrival in Astrum, over a year and a half ago.
Winter was here in force, but unlike in Runeholden it rarely snowed in Astrum due to its location on the coast. In some ways Autbek thought it colder after experiencing several icy rains, which back home would have been snow falls. Wet cloaks made poor cover against the chill, making him feel lucky he wore an enchanted cloak made in Runeholden, as did Berdtom. Priceless perks for those involved in “the craft,” he knew.
“What is that?” He called to one of the guards as he pointed to a small tower. It was made of stone and stood alone perha
ps a thousand paces from Astrum’s closest wall.
“Empty tower my lord. Was a watchtower once but has not been used in many years.” The guard replied.
Not wanting to just stand and look at it he decided to approach to have a better look. The tower was not tall, perhaps three stories at most and there was a low crumbling wall around most of it forming a small courtyard. Inside the courtyard looked to be the remains of a stable and two or three other small buildings.
Walking through a hole in the wall and then through the doorway, which currently lacked a door, Autbek found himself in a large chamber. It was surprisingly empty of rubble or trash he decided, which got him thinking about something. He carefully began to ascend the stone stairs which led to a second chamber the size of the first. Again it was clear and the floor was sound.
“I think I will move in.” He told himself as he turned to descend the stairs, thinking the place would make a great temporary home. He had become tired of the city though he knew little of it. Runeholden was a small town composed of orderly streets lined with large houses and so nothing like the maze that was Astrum. Not to mention Astrum had a most unpleasant odor about it some of the time.
Berdtom sat in his new office listening politely to Autbek as the young man laid out his plans concerning the tower he had discovered outside the city earlier that day. Berdtom’s office was in the mages wing, as was Autbek’s, though neither cared to use the old offices of Tenric. At Berdtom’s suggestion Autbek had requested the Earl grant the man the title of Lord Mage Captain of Arms. A somewhat misleading title Autbek pointed out.
The new duties, as set forth by Berdtom himself, involved practically everything that had to do with the mages wing and its staff, including servants, men-at-arms, and even apprentices. Haspeth had been the first to ask how far Berdtom’s authority actually went.
“Do we actually call him ‘my lord’ and such?” Haspeth had asked as soon as he heard about it. “Not that I mind, it’s just that we don’t call you that.”
“Hmm … I guess you have to as his authority was affirmed by the Earl. Though I suppose other than in public he won’t ask it of you.” Autbek told him.
“Yes, my lord.” Haspeth had replied disrespectfully, something he never tired of being.
Waiting now for Berdtom’s opinion of his tower idea, Autbek thought for sure his friend would try and shoot it down. “Do you think we should ask or just move in?”
“O’t, I’ve been thinking of this moment for some time … though the tower is intriguing I’ve taken the liberty of searching for a location closer to the palace yet not within it.”
“Fine, you have your offices there and the three of us will live at the tower. I’m afraid magecraft requires some room since we will need to practice mastery of certain destructive spells you have hinted at.” He tried not to smirk as he pulled rank on his friend, confidant, and protector.
“If it costs little and no one from the court objects.” Berdtom replied, obviously dismissing its importance.
Autbek thought about the renovations that would be needed and decided on what he thought was an appropriate sum. “I would think twenty-five gold marks would cover the cost of repairs.”
Berdtom, who had gone back to reviewing some letters, snapped his eyes back up to Autbek. “You planning on building a new tower!”
“If that’s more than we need well then I’ll return the excess.”
“Hmm, I’ll submit a request to Lord Gerat, the treasurer, and of course he will deny such a sum.”
Autbek was not giving up. “How much then do you suggest I ask for?”
“Two, two and half at most.”
“Will that be enough, Tom?”
“Umm … not if you oversee construction, but if I hire someone possibly it would be though I would have to take a look at your tower.”
“Funny, Lord Captain!” Autbek said as he turned to leave.
“Yes, my lord!”
“Do have a look at it please … and soon!” Autbek called back over his shoulder as he hurried to exit to avoid getting a reply.
“Nice!” Haspeth exclaimed from horseback at his first visit to the tower.
Autbek hesitated for a moment as he tried to determine if there was sarcasm in that. Deciding there wasn’t he led his horse through the remains of the gate into the small courtyard. Castor had jumped down from behind him, as he preferred not to ride his own horse, and was already in the tower.
A stone came whizzing over their heads nearly hitting Haspeth. “My tower!” Castor yelled from a window.
“Little bastard sneak-thieves don’t live in towers!” Haspeth yelled back in retaliation.
“Only mages do! So stay out Haspeth!” Came a distant reply.
“He likes it.” Autbek stated as they headed toward the tower. He had requested Berdtom to meet them here today, though it took a little work to convince him.
“It will rain on our heads, but beats living in that palace. That place is for the lords!” Haspeth said as he looked at a hole in the wall. “No offense!”
“None taken. The palace was never to my liking either. I do wonder how the academy would have felt though.” He climbed the stairs to the top most level where he figured the Dieknotkow would live, though he had not told Berdtom that part of his plan.
The wooden roof of the top chamber was mostly gone and bird feathers were strewn about the place, making it obviously that pigeons liked the tower. To Haspeth and Autbek it seemed like an appropriate place for the Dieknotkow.
“He’ll have a great view of the two roads.” Haspeth mentioned as he looked out a window.
“Yea, maybe Neustus will find things of interest that way.” He mused. Moving to another window he noticed the approach of three men on horseback. “And here comes Berdtom and escort! Now no joking around while I give him the tour.” He did not want complications when it came to convincing Berdtom to buy into his plan for this place.
“Yes, Lord of Pigeons!” Haspeth muttered as he snatched up a feather.
“Welcome Berdtom, come on up here! Great view of the road!” Autbek yelled out a window.
Berdtom waved as he turned and surveyed the small courtyard for a moment then proceeded into the tower. With a careful eye he began to mentally note the repairs that would have to be made. “O’t you really want this rook!”
“Yep!” Autbek replied from the stairs.
“Going to take more than two and a half crowns but not much more I would guess. Now about the requisition request to the treasury-”
“You're not going to do it are you.” Autbek stated flatly.
“O’t at this point I can’t, I’ve already put in one for the city office we wanted and that will be a tough sale. We can hope that the court wants us out, so that may work in our favor.”
“Hmm.” Autbek said as he stared out a window. “Guess I’ll get the money from father than.” The idea had just occurred to him, and since it seemed like a very small amount he thought it was possible. “Can you loan it to me Tom?”
“Ha! You are adamant about this O’t. Sorry but I don’t have gold on me, but I will come up with it.” Berdtom chuckled at the young man. It was a small price to pay he figured for getting Autbek out of the rut he seemed to be in.
“Good! I’ll need it in the morning as Haspeth knows a good builder to hire and he’ll want an advance. I’m told he does not trust lords much.”
“O’t! I’m serious about having someone else oversee this construction. I’m not coming up with more gold than you’ll get tomorrow.”
“Fair enough.” Autbek said as he furrowed his brow. He had been looking forward to overseeing things but this was just a small concession so he could live with it. All in all it turned out to be a much easier sale to Berdtom then he thought it would be.
Since Haspeth knew the builder and had some experience handling accounts he was given the task of overseeing the renovation project with a lot of input from Autbek. Berdtom had given Haspeth strict orders
not to give Autbek any of the coins or at least do his best not to.
They worked a plan whereby the entranceway to the tower would be expanded such that a separate door would allow the first level to be the library. The second level would be the study and offices and the third level would belong to the Dieknotkow.
The buildings in the courtyard would serve as quarters for the three, quarters for a servant staff of four and as a small barracks for five or six men-at-arms. The stable would be rebuilt as it had been, with enough room for seven stalls. A largely open kitchen would be constructed against the tower.
Haspeth got the project finished in several weeks, though Autbek moved in after only two. They ended up having to find and pay for their own serving staff. Something Autbek found fascinating as the pay scale had to be doubled, because they were mages, and were outside the city where most of the townsfolk preferred not to go. The part that intrigued him the most was that for just three silver pieces a month, plus room and board, one could have a live in servant.
They moved the Dieknotkow without transforming him into a man again for they found it too disconcerting to have to face Neustus again right now. In his man-bird form, since they had hid in the cellar, Neustus seemed content enough as far as they could tell. They did the move at night using a large ox cart. They had to wrap him in blankets to hide his nature, and cast a levitate spell on him to make him weightless, and then they crept down the palace corridors to the courtyard where the cart waited. Various guards and servants hung back and made signs to ward off evil as the party moved by, but there was no serious questions asked.
In the top chamber of the tower the Dieknotkow seemed content on its new rack. Out a single window the man-bird could see the intersection of the roads and a great stretch of Kings-road as well as it ran toward the southern coast. The walls of Astrum blocked view of the harbor and the ocean beyond but the man-bird never showed an interest in the ocean anyway.
