by Clark Bolton
“That’s a term I’ve heard somewhere before.” Autbek said quietly. In fact he recalled now that it was the Earl himself who had used the term in connection with the first audience he had granted to them.
“It refers to the rich and influential who control most of the trade out of Astrum’s harbor. Some lords, some just wealthy.” Berdtom informed Autbek. “So you bear the Sechnal mark?” He asked Murac.
“I do at that, lord Captain.” Murac said impressed, and then he pulled up the sleeve of his tunic and showed them all the tattoo on the underside of his left forearm. It was of a mermaid, but this one wielded a sword and shield, and in the background behind it there was the outline of a city.
“I’ve met several retired marines, though I’ve heard tell their numbers are small.” Berdtom said. “Many ships don’t come back, or if they do many are missing their soldiers.”
“Ha, yes! As many retire in distant lands as die at sea I assure you.”
“Good to know I think.” Berdtom replied.
Autbek was impressed as always by Berdtom’s worldly knowledge. The man seemed never at a loss to come up with some knowledge on nearly any subject. The two men looked to be hitting it off which was good, as Autbek knew that later on Berdtom was going to corner him and give him the once over for not sharing his scheme beforehand.
“So we are going to be like a team of adventurers then? Like in the stories of Prince Astem.” Haspeth asked, referring back to Autbek’s explanation for bringing Murac to the tower.
“Hmm!” Berdtom mused.
“I prefer ‘cabal’!” Castor interjected. This got a reaction from most as the kid had been nearly silent the whole time.
“Where in the hell did you get that from?” Haspeth demanded. “‘Because you sure as hell did not know it last year.”
“From Tenric … was he not joining a secret cabal?” Castor said, disdainfully to Haspeth.
“Huh, best not let our friend here in too deep on his first day. He may think us wider and worldlier than we are.” Berdtom cautioned the boy.
“Too late I think, Lord Captain, anything that involves three mages is always a cross-border subject.” Murac added.
“Four maybe?” Castor said.
Autbek did not understand that. “Four, how’s that?” He asked with a chuckle.
The kid just shrugged and no one else cared to comment until Haspeth figured it out.
“It’s that girl, isn’t?” Haspeth exclaimed.
“What girl?” Autbek asked looking about to see if anyone else knew what he was talking about.
“The cook says he’s been crawling on the tower again with some little girl following him like he’s her mama!” Haspeth teased.
“Really! Castor who is this now?” Autbek asked.
Castor just stared at the fire for a few moments as all eyes were upon him. Then he looked with annoyance at Autbek and said, “Come on out Lita!”
No one moved for a moment then they all started looking about but the sun had set and the firelight foiled their view of much of the courtyard. After several tense moments they heard soft footsteps as a girl about Castor’s age came shyly into the light. She was a bit shorter than him and had the same dark complexion and hair. All in all she looked just like the street urchin Castor had been.
“Please tell me she’s your sister!” Haspeth chided. “Cause if she is sitting there listening to all this and she ain't she is in big trouble!”
Castor ignored Haspeth as the girl came to stand behind him and proceeded to lean against him for comfort as she kept her face down.
“Castor! Who is this girl?” Berdtom asked with all seriousness.
“She is a friend … I’ve known her forever, it is ok.”
Berdtom brought his hand to his face in obvious consternation.
Autbek found the girl quite pretty and suddenly wondered if Castor did too. Then he recalled the wall climbing comment Haspeth had made. “Castor, you didn’t try and teach her that spell did you?”
Castor looked at him for a moment then shrugged again as he looked away.
“Oh great my lords, now we have two sneak-thieves!” Haspeth announced incredulously.
“She is part of my acrobat team!” Castor blurted out in the girl’s defense.
It was their way of referring to the magic act he and Haspeth had been perfecting despite Autbek’s objections. One that was based on what the kid had done once before at the party in the palace that Autbek had been forced to attend and endure.
Berdtom let out a snort, “Castor in the future please let Autbek or myself know of your plans before you put them into action!”
Castor grimaced but said nothing.
“And O’t, please have the courtesy to do the same with your plans!”
There it was Autbek decided the castigation and acceptance he expected and needed from Berdtom. “Sorry.” He replied softly.
“O’t, have him come in to my offices tomorrow.” Berdtom said, referring to Castor. “Alone! Now if you’ll excuse me I shall return to the city as I have much to consider.”
“Goodbye Tom.”
“I do have something for you before I go.” Berdtom announced as he walked to the stable. There he pulled a large satchel from behind the saddle on his horse. Walking back to the open kitchen he handed it to Autbek.
Autbek looked at the satchel carefully to confirm it was a Runeholden made satchel, and then replied, “I accept its charge!”
“The contents are yours to take!” Berdtom replied, ritually.
“What are all these letters?” He asked as he pulled a few from the satchel.
“They were addressed to Tenric; apparently the court has been holding some of them for quite some time though they feared to open them. Rightly so I think as some are maybe from other mages.”
“Ah, yes … that could have consequences.” Autbek replied as he considered the full ramifications of it. Mages at times sealed their letters with runes preventing reading by those not authorized. Some of the runes were explosive.
Murac then spoke up from his seat at the fire. “I have not seen one of those in a while.” He commented motioning to the satchel Autbek still held.
“Oh, you recognize it then?” Berdtom inquired.
“No, but the ritual words you two just said, that I do. I’ve carried a few and delivered most.”
“You are a well-traveled man, Murac. I look forward to more tales from you.” Berdtom then climbed into the saddle. “Farewell my friends. And you Castor, I shall see tomorrow!”
They all bid him good night as he and his two guards rode into the dark.
Autbek smiled as he picked up the satchel. It was Runeholden made, though nowhere on it would the name appear he knew. The contents of such a satchel could only be retrieved by the rightful owner or one to which it was to be delivered. Woe to the thief who tried to open or slash the enchanted leathers.
“I’m going to go do some reading.” He announced as he headed for his office. There he withdrew all the letters, which numbered about thirty. Casting a cantrip he determined immediately that two of the letters were sealed with magical runes. “Wow!” He exclaimed as he carefully set those two aside.
He began separating the others by whom they were from, though most did not indicate on the outside and so would have to be opened to determine the sender. One was marked with a name that sent his blood racing. “Onaleen!”
The cover indicated it was from the father of Onaleen. Opening it carefully he found a long page of very well formed script. The letter was from the girl’s father, wherein he expressed his reserve at writing this very letter but his daughter begged it of him and so in the end he relented.
Autbek read it several times to be sure its meaning. Apparently it was a thank you note written by a protective father to thank one, Vis Mage-Councilor, and to congratulate Autbek on his appointment as such. Nowhere did it mention anything personal, which he supposed her father would not allow anyway.
The lett
er did smell a little bit like her he mused as he held it to his nose for a while. There was no dates on the letter so he had no way of knowing when she had sent it but figured it was about the time Tenric left since there was a month gap in lessons at that time. He knew it was quite possible the court had been secretly holding them for weeks prior to Tenric’s departure or anytime up to this day.
The thought that she had waited in vain for some reply made him feel anxious and a bit sad, particularly since she had not mentioned the letter in the last class she had attended only a couple of days ago. Taking up a quill he decided to write a reply now. Laying down a fresh piece of parchment he began composing the letter in his mind.
“Hmm.” He muttered to himself after writing “Dear Onaleen.” He could not think now what to write. Maybe he should write to her father first, after all it was his letter. He then pictured her father casting an unopened letter addressed to his daughter into the fireplace.
Then he began to form a plan in his mind. It would require some stealth and perhaps a couple of letters written by him, and of course a messenger. Looking down at the satchel he thought perhaps sending it, but decided quickly that it would be overkill.
“O’t, why do you keep smelling that letter?” Haspeth asked from the doorway.
“Oh, umm I don’t know.” Autbek replied as he snapped out of his reverie. “Call Castor up here would you please.”
“Sure.” Haspeth said as he turned and yelled for the boy down the stairs.
Castor soon came up still looking a bit ashamed. He said nothing as he walked over to Autbek’s desk to have a look at the letters.
“Um, these two are not to be touched.” Autbek warned the two. “They are sealed with runes.”
“What are you going to do with those? You’re not going to open them right?” Haspeth asked.
“I don’t know yet. Anyway I need to talk to Castor for a few minutes?”
“Ah, well then … I’ll be down in the WOODSHED!” Haspeth announced with emphasis on the last word which he practically shouted at Castor.
Waiting for Haspeth to leave Autbek then turned to Castor who was waiting nervously. “Oh … no, no … not that!” He said trying to put the kid at ease concerning Lita. “I need you to check in on someone … but I don’t want anyone to know. Especially not Berdtom!”
It took a moment for Castor to accept his luck at not being yelled at about Lita. “Ok, that I can do, O’t.”
“Ok … yes … well she is somewhere in Astrum … it’s Onaleen … I think you remember where she lives!”
“Ok …”
“And if she … Onaleen … looks to be well I want you to give her a letter … but don’t let her father see it!”
“We’ve sent her letters before … remember … and we’ve been to her house!”
“Oh, well … um not to her directly and hopefully her father didn’t see us that night.”
“Got it, O’t!” Castor said with a wink.
“Hey! Just do this and I’ll … accept Lita … if she is no trouble!”
“Consider it done!” Castor said with a bow.
“Ok, can you do it first thing tomorrow?”
“Don’t I have to see Berdtom tomorrow?”
Autbek thought for a moment, now annoyed by Berdtom. “Hmm, you can do this first I think.” He pictured Onaleen accepting the letter with a beautiful smile on her face. Then he furrowed his brow, What if she refuses the letter because it comes too late, he thought.
“O’t!” Castor said loudly to get him to look up as Autbek seemed lost in thought. “I think I better see Berdtom first!”
“Ah…yeah.” Autbek conceded.
The doors opened finally, after a very long wait, and a servant stepped through and announced. “His lordship the Earl will see you now.”
Berdtom nodded to the servant politely as he motioned to a short balding man to accompany him. The two had been waiting over an hour and Berdtom was getting concerned that a certain time period would elapse before they got their audience.
“Greetings your Lordship!” Berdtom said with a bow.
“Ah, master Berdtom, welcome.” The Earl said as he sat at his writing table. “Now why must I meet with you at such short notice?” he asked with just a hint of annoyance.
“Progress my lord, as I’ll explain if you would please indulge us.” Berdtom replied as he walked to the table.
“Hmm, I do much of that with you Berdtom.” The Earl said in a lighter tone.
“You do, my lord, now please allow me to introduce master Sak!”
“Greetings.” The Earl said after looking up for a moment.
“Master Sak, has a talent that you must see.” Berdtom said as he gently moved Sak into position without so much as a peep from the man.
Now standing at the opposite side of the small writing desk from the Earl, Sak proceeded to lay down five large cards with identical backings. After which he rapidly flipped them to expose five different faces. Then before the Earl could comment he flipped them again and then over again. The five now all had identical faces.
“Impressive!” The Earl replied now a slight bit interested. “But hardly the time for it.”
Sak ignored the comment and proceeded to quickly gather up the five cards then fanned them out in his hands face down and offered them to the Earl.
“Card tricks Berdtom … really!” The Earl said as he reached out and pulled a card free. Turning it over he was pleasantly surprised to see that it was a new face, one he had not seen yet.
“One more moment, my lord.” Berdtom said with a smile.
Sak then produced a very small wooden box, not much larger than a man’s thumb. He placed it on the table and then slid it sharply over to the Earl.
“Hmm!” The Earl mused as he shot a glance at Berdtom. Opening the box he let out a gasp at the sight of his signet ring. “What!” Then he looked to his hand to confirm it was not there. Standing suddenly he shouted at Berdtom. “Intolerable!”
Ignoring the volume of the Earl’s comment for a moment Berdtom replied. “It was necessary my lord, both to show our talents and to show our resolve!”
“BOOM BOOM BOOM!”
Berdtom turned slowly to the doors that had been shut behind him, apparently not at all surprised by the interruption.
The doors flew open and standing there ready was one of the Comusa. He had his sword in hand and shield ready.
“My lord, spells have been cast!” The Comusa exclaimed.
“It is ok! Stand down!” The Earl commanded. “Your expedience is commendable, but not necessary, now leave us.”
The Comusa looked about for a few moments, his eyes scanning Berdtom and Sak, then he bowed and backed out. Several palace guards behind him retreated also. Finally servants stepped forward to close the doors.
“One of your mages?” The Earl asked as he eyed Sak.
“Yes my lord.” Berdtom replied. Then he spoke to Sak quietly, “Please wait outside.”
Sak bowed to the Earl and then proceeded to the doors without a word.
Tempted though he looked, the Earl did not stop the short man from leaving. He then retrieved his ring from the box and examined it closely.
“I think, my lord, this helps demonstrate the resources I can bring to bear and my resolve to do so as needed. We have common goals, and so I ask again for your support in my bid for the ‘Silent Office’ a second time.”
The Earl slipped on the ring and turned to stare at the fireplace as he pondered his response. “You have Berdtom, been the only one producing results as I’m sure you know. As such it would seem wise though I have a hesitation!”
“Yes my lord?”
“It’s Runeholden, Berdtom. What would they have said had you played this little game with them?”
“Runeholden has no humor my lord. At least none while I’m away.”
“I concluded as such. I will with all seriousness consider your request, though I know you have two swords in this fire.”
“Hmm, you do press me Berdtom!” The Earl said as he turned back to face the man.
Berdtom met the Earl’s stare easily as he waited patiently for a reply. Though he did not show it he wished for a quick conclusion to the meeting in order to escort Sak out of the palace with expedience.
“End of the week, Berdtom. You’ll get your answer then.”
“Very well my lord.” With that Berdtom bowed and exited.
One hid in the shadows while the other kept watch at the door. They had been there for some time when finally their prey approached. Moving quickly the one at the door cast a spell as did the other, but instead of hiding they walked over near the window and put on their best innocent smile.
“Oh! You startled me!” Onaleen said bringing her hand to her mouth. She had stepped into her room for a moment to retrieve something and unexpectedly found two pretty girls in cute white gowns there. “I did not know we had company!”
“Shhh!” they both whispered as one of them walked past her to close the door. “We’re not supposed to be here!”
“Oh, doesn’t your mother or father know you're here?” Onaleen replied. The two looked very much alike she thought perhaps they were twins.
The girls shook their heads and laughed, then one of them handed her a letter. “It’s from an admirer!” The one at the door said as she handed it over.
“Is it?” Onaleen said with eyes wide. Accepting the letter she then turned it to read who it was from. “Ahhh!” she squealed.
“You like the Vis Mage-Councilor don’t you!” The girl at the window asked.
“Maybe a little.” Onaleen said with a big smile as she hurried to read the letter. Her face was an expression of apprehension as she read the letter to herself. “Oh my … ummm … yesss!” she blurted as her eyes fell upon an especially appealing part of it.
The young woman failed to notice that the girl by the window was taking great interest in the silver hand mirror sitting on the dresser. The other girl, still by the door, waved a finger at her twin indicating she was not to touch. The other girl proceeded to pout.
