by Clark Bolton
“Maybe! But then trolls may not be the only thing you’ll have to contend with if my father sees us!”
“I shall find a spell, my love, one that will quench his anger at the actions of a cad like me!”
She gave him a stern look. “Better be soon, O’t, or I shall have to leave.” She was serious, though she did not truly know why. She was old enough to have men court her, but she had never dreamed it would be like this. “I don’t wish to leave.”
He eyed her and smiled as he squeezed her hand. “You shall not leave me, Onaleen, come fierce troll father, or mother for that matter, though it cost me a fortune.”
“Careful what you say, my lord, us common folks can be swayed by gold.”
“This I know, my lady, for my mother has warned me of it since I was ten at nearly every opportunity.”
“I should like to meet her, she sounds wise … and you know what a wise mother gives her son.”
He could not think of an answer, so he shook his head.
“A wise woman!”
Berdtom had overheard their conversation. “Run, O’t, run far and fast for wise women make their men into fools so they will stay with them as they fatten… in more ways than one I might add!”
“Oh, ha-ha!” Onaleen scolded.
Autbek stared at her body, which was making his blood seethe with lust at the moment, despite her words, deciding that he would have her now if she allowed it and the consequences be damned! He squeezed her hand hard, nearly causing her pain as he slowly pulled her to him again.
She let him kiss her and cared not at all who watched nor stopped his hands when they wondered. When he stood and pulled her after him as he headed for his room within the small adjoining building, her heart pounded as her inner self screamed in ecstasy.
They would have had their night but for Berdtom. “I shall stop to have words with you in a moment, Autbek, and I shall forgive you when you throw them back in my face!”
The couple gave pause for a moment at his words but then proceeded into the small building anyway where Autbek, Haspeth, and Castor each had separate, though tiny, bedrooms.
Murac emerged from among the dwarves to observe Berdtom following the two. “Ah, Berdtom, you're a braver man than I!” He said loudly, getting a number of raunchy responses and chuckles from the dwarves.
Haspeth grinned at the scene and then smiled mischievously at Pemmesa, who promptly shook her head no while rolling her eyes. “Ahh.” He pleaded.
“Not battle-mage enough yet.” Castor commented as he took his turn at scrubbing Lita’s back while thinking about tomorrow’s party.
Twenty dwarves marched through the streets followed by three men and three women on horseback dressed in the livery of the Mage-Councilor’s office. Behind them rode Murac, with Lita, and Berdtom. They made quite a spectacle in the streets of the city as they marched toward the feast in their honor.
Autbek smiled and even waved sometimes as folks peered out their windows and dropped what they were doing to watch the small parade. He just hoped they had not brought too many dwarves. When they got to the place where they had slain the first troll they found the entire street transformed, and his concerns were alleviated.
A dozen or more long tables had been assembled complete with benches and most were already filled, with many of the participants being city guards who cheered and raised their mugs as the dwarves marched into view. Stalls of various kinds had sprung up selling foods of all types and large roasting pits had been setup to provide meat for the feast.
Though much of the food was not free most of the ale seemed to be and so soon every dwarf was happily sipping and eating, as was Haspeth and Murac. People lined up to congratulate the two, and anyone else near them, seeming unsure who the heroes were but Haspeth was more than happy to fill anyone in.
“Got ‘em we did. Burned them like that pig over there … though we chose not to eat it!” Haspeth would repeat this joke throughout the evening as it seemed to work on each new group that dropped by. Autbek kept his distance from the main tables though he did stand about for a while with the main dignitaries of the city guard, feeling he had some obligation to.
Castor came and went with Lita, seemingly at random. The two easily navigated the crowds and for the most part took no credit for the troll killing, preferring to remain in the background. Autbek spent most of the time walking down the street and alleys with Onaleen and the other two girls sampling food and talking with each new group of partiers they past.
After sunset the revelers changed tempo and many small groups could be found hanging out on doorsteps and on the countless balconies that lined the street. Many were drunk but most behaved themselves as they chatted around small fires. Autbek could not help but look about from time to time and wonder if there might be another of the trolls hanging about in the shadow of an alleyway or upon a rooftop, but nobody else seemed concerned.
“Your pardon, Lord Mage-Councilor, have time for our thoughts do you?” An older woman sitting at a small fire with several others asked as Autbek and the girls attempted to squeeze by into the alleyway behind the woman.
Autbek had long since given up on correcting the title to Vis Mage-Councilor. “I do ma’am.” He said as he noticed the swirling colors in the large pan the woman had before her upon the fire. It surprised him when he realized magic was involved for he could see arcane energies playing about the pan, though he knew no one else but perhaps the three girls with him were likely to be able to see it.
The woman seemed pleased at his answer. “Then we are happy for his lordship’s success, and wish him more.” This got many replies of congratulations from others near the fire.
“Autbek, I see faces in the fire!” Pemmesa exclaimed as she stared into the pan.
Not sure if the magic being displayed was benign or not, Autbek decided to mess with it a bit on a whim. He put his hand over the pan and did a simple stirring cantrip and so when he slowed swirled his hand the liquid in the pan also swirled.
“You see things girl, then you are gifted like the Mage-Councilor I think.”
“I don’t see faces, only colors and elements.” Autbek commented. The ale he had been drinking almost constantly since arriving at the party was freeing his tongue he knew, but he found it refreshing to speak freely anyway.
Pemmesa stared at the liquid in awe now as it quieted since Autbek had stepped aside. “I see men and women with narrow eyes and strange hats.”
No one said anything for a few moments until Resbeka unexpectedly spoke. “Are you viken, I mean I see your purse there and another with weavings on them that I’ve seen before.” She was referring now to several shoulder bags sitting next to the women. They were of leather and tanned a greenish hue with intricately engraved designs.
A woman, known as Adelm, then spoke up. “You have a sharp eye, mage. We are surprised you know their meaning.”
Resbeka smiled sheepishly. “Oh, I’m not a mage yet … just an apprentice. But I have known some viken before, a friend of my aunt, and another man too I think.”
“Do you see faces too, my dear?”
Resbeka stepped closer to the fire. “No, I don’t.”
Pemmesa looked astonished. “You can’t see these, Beka? They are so clear and they are talking but I can’t hear them. I wish I could!”
Onaleen also saw nothing as she peered over Resbeka’s shoulder then turned to Autbek shaking her head to let him know. “Are you familiar with these ladies, Pemmesa?”
“No, Autbek, I don’t think I’ve seen them before. But look; now I see strange ships, almost like floating docks.”
This caused a bit of stir among the viken as Adelm spoke again. “We have seen similar things, Pemmesa, but I think not so clearly as you. It is why we will be leaving soon enough.”
Autbek looked about to try to better fathom the meaning of that statement. Here he was among some spell casters of some type for the first time within the city and now they spoke of leaving. “Leaving,
may I ask why?
The older woman spoke. “Like you, lord Councilor, we know of something to come but know not what. We do see that we are better served by leaving the city.”
He became cautious now so as not to end the conversation before he learned more. “May I ask when?”
The women looked about at each other with smiles, making it obvious that this had been discussed before and not so long ago. “Before the winter, that is all we can guess at.”
Aldem shrugged at her friend as she turned to ask Autbek. “Do you see yourself here, Lord Councilor, beyond next winter?”
“I see not into the future, ladies, so have no answer ready for you.”
“Where will you go?” Pemmesa asked.
“Fear not girl, it will not be soon nor far, plenty of time for you to get to know us.”
Autbek found that a bit ominous as he looked around carefully at his three apprentices. The viken were certainly taking a liking to Pemmesa, which he supposed could be of value to him, or at least to Berdtom. Smiling at Pemmesa he told her, “Don’t forget you’re my apprentice, though I would share you with these ladies if they are so inclined to teach.”
“Perhaps we are, lord Councilor, though our secrets are held tightly.”
“So long as they do not conflict with her oaths to the Earl I see no reason she could not keep them.”
Aldem paused for a moment. “And what of the blue-bird, my lord, shall they be kept from him.”
He was thrown a little by that, but should not have been he quickly decided. “That I can’t speak to.”
“Who then speaks for the man-bird, and why does he hunt no more we wonder?”
“He hunts, ladies, it is just done differently now.” He wanted their friendship and so figured a little riddle to keep them interested would not hurt.
“Your mage tower, is that not where he watches the world from?”
“Let’s just say when you leave the city be aware you may be hunted.”
They talked for some time before Autbek decided they best get back to the feast to check upon Haspeth and Castor. He left them, promising to meet with them should they choose to visit the mage tower. He felt they could be allies, but was not so sure Berdtom would agree.
They found Haspeth where they had left him, though now he was being even more boastful and as they approached with the intent of talking him into leaving they witnessed him casting spells for all to see. Sitting near him was Fesmbol who seemed to be one of those encouraging him.
“There … now stand back!” Haspeth announced as he focused on a line of about fifteen mugs full of ale that others had arranged in the center of the table. Casting his burning water spell he alighted all the mugs.
Cheers of joy were shouted loudly about at the spectacle but when the dwarves thought to bring the mugs to their lips Autbek quickly intervened. Casting an extinguish cantrip he snuffed out all the mugs before someone got severely burned.
“AHHH!” The crowd yelled in disappointment at his action.
“Where have you been keeping this one, Lord Councilor?” Fesmbol asked as the crowd turned to other things.
Looking around Autbek thought he saw Bek further back in the crowd but decided he didn’t really care. “He comes out for troll hunts among other things, my lord.” He replied coldly.
Fesmbol nodded his head. “Well as may be, he is certainly the most sociable of you mages and a fine drinking companion.”
At this point the crowd began to demand more from Haspeth who looked willing to oblige, so standing again on unsteady feet he began to arrange the mugs in a circle. Autbek had the three girls move in and distract him before Haspeth did something even more foolish.
“Sorry, but I hate to see beards afire!” Autbek explained as he gave Haspeth a cold stare. “Another time, my lord.” He said to Fesmbol.
It took a few moments for things to sink into Haspeth’s alcohol numbed brain, but when it did he looked apologetic at the girls who were trying now to get him away from the table. It took a while longer to convince everyone it was time to go but eventually they got on their horses, leaving the dwarves to further feasting.
“Maybe that one we can work with?” Bek asked of Fesmbol as they watched the mages ride away.
Fesmbol nodded his head. “Not the one I want but it would be a good start. We’ll have to see what else he can do as I’m guessing he is not the type of mage that wanders about the palace freely.”
“Good if we need a fire!” Bek laughed.
“Yes, now let’s find someone who knows more about him and maybe the girls. I would like to think they all have special uses.” Fesmbol remarked as he thought about ways to keep this new mage away from his sister, and perhaps if need be his bothers also.
Chapter 24
The next morning saw the dwarves early to work and Autbek with a bit of a headache. The hall would be finished soon they said and so they would now begin excavations in the cellar to add several large rooms there well below ground. The library was one, and the chamber Neustus wanted another, both of which they promised would be hidden behind concealed doors.
Berdtom had been working closely with the dwarves as of late and had been floating the idea of a tunnel running from the tower to the small guard shack that sat at the intersection of Earls-way and Kings-road. The shack was rarely used but it seemed Berdtom and his spy network had uses for it. Talk of spying made Autbek a bit nervous, though it was fascinating to hear what plots Berdtom had uncovered for the Earl. For the most part Berdtom kept them from the details, saying it was best.
“So, you can build this tunnel of Berdtom’s in secret then, Xajac?” Autbek asked as he sat down to eat breakfast with the dwarf.
“No, not so much lad, but we can conceal work on it by making it look like it is part of the cobblestone path that we shall lay above it.”
“Ah, make sense I guess.” The shack already had a straight path of sorts running between it and the tower.
“Now the one under the walls, well that will be a challenge as well as expensive!”
“Didn’t know that was planned.” He admitted as he ate. Berdtom had the funds he figured but was never sure about the rights to do such things. Apparently spymaster came with special privileges or at least ways to avoid obstacles, like bureaucratic approvals.
“Yea! Now tell me more about this Neustus chamber. Can’t build what ain’t detailed to me on parchment.
Autbek’s stomach sank at mention of it. So far he had only some vague sketches made by Castor from some even more vague etchings Neustus had made on the floor, though Neustus had whispered some answers to detailed questions about the chamber. It seemed one of a dozen loose ends he had to deal with these days. His hopes of a simpler life away from the city were not materializing. “I’ll get more to you as I get them.”
The dwarf shook his head in annoyance. “Ok for now lad as there is plenty for my crew to work on but the longer you delay the more it will cost ya!”
He smiled knowingly. “Fair enough.”
Their attention was drawn by Un Papp who stood bowing in the doorway that lead into the tower. He was holding a scroll and motioning for Autbek who got up and walked over to retrieve it. It was immediately obvious it was another fire-scroll from Tel Sok.
Autbek sat down at the table beside Xajac and then saying his own name aloud he carefully opened the scroll.
Greetings apprentice, and do forgive if your title i
s short as I don’t give much credence to pomp.
I find your skill with illusions impressive and even
remarkable though I never thought Ausic’s went
much for such insubstantiality. I think it not helps
to convince a skeptic as myself though one could
see others thinking differently.
…
He laughed as he pictured Tel Sok’s face with a surprised look upon it as Castor’s miniature illusion manifested. There seemed little doubt the man could not accomplish such a thin
g, and as for being a skilled mage, well Autbek and everyone else who read these letters seemed to doubt Tel Sok was such. He scanned the page down to the last part.
… Ausic lore is rare as you profess, but I have
some of that in abundance. There is of course
much more made from that mineral you're
supposed ring is made of, with Ausic-Trainers
not being the least. They say it takes a ring to
know one so I suppose they are of no value to
those who own them here, but to you they must
seem priceless.
- Tel Sok, mage of Ingretti.
“Hmm! Wonder what an Ausic-Trainer could be?” Autbek said as he looked to Xajac.
The dwarf shrugged as he went back to studying the drawings he and others had made of the planned renovations to the mage tower. Autbek then thought to ask the dwarf’s opinion of his Ausic Ring.
“What is this made of, Xajac, do you know?”
The dwarf’s expert eyes fell upon the ring intensely. “Could I handle it, lad? Looks most interesting and I must admit I’ve eyed it from afar for some time as have my lads.”
“Sorry, but I feel compelled to leave it around my neck.” Though he had to admit to himself that he was not sure why. The dwarf settled for leaning over and handling the ring on its chain around Autbek’s neck while examining it with the jeweler’s glass he pulled from his vest.
“Not seen it’s like. What do they call the mineral?”
“I’m afraid other than the word Ausic, I know nothing more than it is enchanted and quite ancient.”
“Hmm, yes … hmm … if I could run some tests on it I could tell you more, but for now I’ll say it’s one of a kind and possibly worth a small fortune.”
