by Taki Drake
When no one interrupted her, the woman became uncomfortable under the combined stares and continued, “The nearly successful attempt on my life and your daring rescue distracted me. Afterward, we came here without time to talk. I was totally exhausted and needed to recover. Ever since then, we’ve been busy, running from one emergency to another.”
Again the Mage paused, but the disbelieving stares and the deep silence continued. Ruth sighed and added, “That’s one reason that Hunter stayed back at the Castle. Not only was he watching the children and testing the vigilance of the guards, but he was going to try to work out something to extend the Inner and Outer Keep security coverage with the ghosts of the last Unfettered Mage and his Anchor.”
As soon as the Mage quit talking, Jenna and Margot moved over to the back wall, and Gerian took their place. Leaning her head against Pawlik’s shoulder, Ruth watched as the two women had an animated discussion with someone on the other end of the comm channel.
“I’m sorry, it truly slipped my mind. I didn’t mean to keep anything secret from you, but everything else was so immediate that I forgot.”
“Actually, I’m relieved. If we have someone that can help us understand our strengths and limitations, we will have a far better chance of surviving. Let’s plan on visiting them as soon as we return to Borachland Castle.”
Ruth pressed closer to her Anchor’s side and thought, Thank goodness for this man. I hope I continue to remember to thank God each day for his presence in my life.
Looking somewhat unsure, Arani walked over to Ruth and asked her, “Is it acceptable if I give you a summary of what has occurred to date?”
“Of course, it is. That’s your job, and I really appreciate you doing it.”
The middle-aged woman had her hair up in a braided bun and was dressed in a conservative business suit that almost looked like a modified guard uniform. Ruth was amused by the outfit but decided if the woman was comfortable in what amounted to livery, there was no reason for the Mage to object.
Her assistant gave her a concise summary, including progress on the renovations and a list of her calls. The only one of note seemed to be a follow-up call from their hostess of the previous night who hoped that Ruth might join her for tea the following day. Ruth asked Arani to answer in the affirmative and find out what time would be convenient for Sabina.
As Arani got up to take care of some pending tasks, the door to the bar opened, and a cool breeze blew in. It drew everyone’s attention, and Ruth was both startled and pleased when she saw the man in the garb of the Auditors Guild. It was Senior Auditor Rick, and he was accompanied by two others.
The Auditors looked around the room and saw Ruth and Pawlik sitting at the table. Adjusting their path, the men headed straight for the Lord and Lady of Borachland.
As they got closer to the table, Arani placed herself in front of them, forcing the men to stop to avoid running into her. With a pleasant, professional smile on her face, the woman asked, “May I help you?”
The Senior Auditor looked at Arani, taking in her apparel and attitude. Nodding his head to Ruth, he tilted toward Arani and quirked an eyebrow in question.
Pleased at his quick comprehension, Ruth greeted him, saying, “Senior Auditor Rick, how nice to see you again. I would like to introduce you to my new assistant, Arani.” Turning her attention to the woman, she added, “Arani, I would like to introduce you to Senior Auditor Rick of the Auditors Guild. He has an open invitation to meet with me at his convenience and is someone that you should feel free to call on my behalf if necessary.”
The woman nodded in acknowledgment and told the Auditors Guild representative that she would send him her contact details and would appreciate his in return. Turning back to her tasks, Arani quickly climbed the stairs to return to her makeshift office across from Ruth’s room.
An arrested look on his face, the Auditor watched the woman leave. As she disappeared from sight, Ruth could see the tiny shake that Rick gave himself and the mental wrench that happened in his mind to get him back on task.
“Greetings, Archmage Ruth and Lord Pawlik. Our visit is actually a combination of business and pleasure.”
Pawlik laughed and gestured for the Auditors to join him and Ruth at the table. Waving at Luka behind the bar, the Lord of Borachland stated, “Let’s take care of business first, and then we can deal with pleasure.”
“A man after my own heart. Lord Pawlik and Lady Mage, I wanted to let you know that the findings of the Guild have ruled that the space controlled by the Insectoids includes the galaxy known as Aleria 407 on the Alliance charts. This includes the origin planet for the Lady Mage.”
Ruth noticed the tension that seemed to flow up through Pawlik’s arm. Wondering what new problem was going to face them now, Ruth thought to herself, We really need to learn to speak without words. It would be so convenient at a time like this.
Without a clue to what the issue was, Ruth simply asked, “Thank you very much for telling me. However, please remember I don’t have the frame of reference to interpret some of the things that you pass on to me. In other words, what does that mean?”
The two men with Rick stared at her with open mouths. Ignoring them, which was easy because they had not been introduced, Ruth waited for the senior member of the contingent to answer her. She could have sworn she saw a small smile on his face but knew Rick would never be so unprofessional as to display an expression like that in public. She continued to sit there patiently until he finally said, “It means that you own the planet of your birth. It also means you are responsible for protecting it and all of the planets and resources in that area.”
Spinning to look at Pawlik, Ruth was surprised to not see a look of concern on his face. Instead, he seemed supremely pleased. She was going to ask another question, but he gave her a short headshake, and she knew that any discussion would need to be held later.
Somewhat at a loss for words, the Mage kept a pleasant smile on her face as she asked Rick, “I assume that was business. Is there more?” The woman supposed that it was a facetious question, but was drawn up short when Rick answered to the affirmative.
“Yes, one small piece of business that I believe you will be pleased to hear. The registration paperwork has gone through, Lord Pawlik, and this building and the surrounding two blocks have been designated the Borachland Embassy in Arkken Port.”
Pawlik replied, “Excellent. I appreciate your notifying me in such a timely manner.”
Rick nodded at one of the gentlemen accompanying him who handed Pawlik documents wrapped in ribbons of red and sealed with archaic wax imprints. The Lord of Borachland grinned and asked, “How should we mark this as a valid embassy?”
The other gentlemen accompanying Rick stood up and walked over to Luka at the bar. Tracking the man with his eyes, Senior Auditor Rick said, “Simon will give the wall plaques to the bartender that need to be posted inside and out to designate this as an embassy. It is up to you to secure your location. You are free to build walls and gates as necessary. The Arkken Port civic authorities have no rights within your walls. Effectively, this area becomes part of Borachland proper, subject to its laws.”
Stunned, Ruth watched as Luka received and opened the packet from the Auditor. The bartender’s bright smile was like a sunrise, lighting the entire room with gleeful emotion. Immediately, Luka set about bolting the distinctive plaque to the wall above the bar. He sent Patry out with an escort to do the same at the doorway.
Pawlik directed Jenna and Margot to join Luka, suggesting that Alan might wish to do the same. All three of the former Marines quickly huddled in concert with the bartender. There was a flurry of activity as Alan directed Marines to escort the various bar employees attaching the notification to the prescribed areas. From the direction that they were going, Ruth deduced that they were marking all of the approaches clearly.
Only when the dispatched groups returned and reported in did the tension in Ruth’s body subside. Now, everything is correctly
posted. Anything that happens after this point will be fighting not only us but the Auditors Guild.
Chapter 47 – Danger Ahead
Force X Bar, Arkken Port
The business objectives achieved, Rick switched to the pleasure part. Patiently, he went over the functionality of the authentication bracers with Ruth. Functionality that allowed her to pay for purchases using the encrypted channels to her financial institutions was easily accessible. During her frenzied shopping trip, the Mage had practiced that intensely.
Other functionality was not as intuitive. Ruth decided she would have to think about how to incorporate her casting into the interface. Calling Arani as well as her security team, the Mage had Rick walk them through the basic utility features.
“This has been very helpful. Thank you, Rick. I think at this point, we need to collectively explore a bit and will then be ready to ask more specific questions.”
Arani spoke up, saying, “If it is acceptable, I would like to be able to ask you for reference sites and instruction documents that will assist our staff in their training.”
Ruth noticed that Rick got the same abstracted look on his face that he had before as he said, “Of course. I will send you my contact information and hope that you will use it whenever you have questions. Hopefully, you will not mind if I contact you in return.”
Ruth could have sworn that Arani’s face looked slightly pinker than usual as the controlled woman answered, “I would be honored. I’m sending you my contact data now. Please feel free to contact me at any time, day or night. My job is to help filter the things with which the Mage has to deal. Needless to say, I take my job seriously.”
The bar was full, noisy, and energetic. Ruth had not been paying much attention to the rest of the inhabitants, although she noticed that her security detail had redeployed in a different configuration than usual. She saw it in passing but didn’t mark it as significant.
As Pawlik stood up and walked over to consult with Luka and Alan on something by the main bar, the Mage noticed unusual activity at a table of four men across the room from her.
Ruth had relaxed as the evening had gone on, content in Pawlik’s support and pleased with the establishment of the embassy. Her security detail was unobtrusive and flexible, so the Mage could deceive herself into feeling alone. That sensation let her breathe freely, and she relaxed, even more, channeling her energy into the core of her power and reaching toward Borachland.
<< Archmage, watch out! >> Ruth heard the faint voices and began to respond to the shouted urgency. Only after she moved did the Mage realize that what she had heard was the combined warning of the two specters in the Borachland Home Wood.
Instantly, Ruth tried to bring up her shields, unsure of where the threat was coming from. Fire blossomed in the middle of the table, igniting the entire surface with flames as hot as the heart of a sun.
To the observers, the table exploded. Unsure of what had happened, many of the people in the room jumped to their feet and drew their weapons. From a table near the door, a man stood up and yelled, “I saw her! That woman tried to kill the Auditors!”
Rushing toward the Mage’s table, the man waited with a drawn and primed weapon. Several of his friends from the same table joined him, ready to fire.
When Pawlik and the others slammed into them, the soldiers resisted, screaming at the top of their lungs, “That woman is only pretending to be a Mage. She’s an assassin, and she’s going after the Auditors.”
Jenna and Margot paid no attention to the stupidity of their comments, slamming the men down to the ground and quickly restraining them. Pawlik was so close to Ruth’s table that the hair on the back of his hands crisped and crumbled.
Using his chair as a battering ram, Major Culhane joined him, with his weapon drawn and shouting instructions to the room. Marines scattered in multiple directions in response, securing the scene and adding more weapons aimed toward the men that Jenna and Margot had restrained.
A crash at the door broke the latch, and a compressed group of the Arkken City Council security force shoved their way in. The people inside the bar resisted them, and the captain in charge of the civic group shouted loudly, “We know that the so-called Mage has murdered the Auditors. We are here to take her to stand trial.”
Voices were raised in disagreement, while Pawlik stood silent as his mind flicked through possibilities and strategies. He realized at that moment that the Arkken Council was trying to frame Ruth for a crime. The whole thing was a setup.
His eyes never left the table that was enveloped in blue fire. Most of the Borachland forces glanced at him for reassurance. They drew hope from his relaxed stance, as well as his drawn weapons and focused gaze.
For a few moments, the hot blue flames rose high over the table. Despite the screams and shouts of the Council Patrol, the Lord of Borachland waited.
His patience was rewarded when the flames began to die down, and his Mage could be clearly seen. Ruth was standing braced against the table edge with her arms outstretched. The flames were held away from her and those she had protected by an invisible wall generated out of her casting.
Looking extremely annoyed, the Unfettered Mage was close to violence, and her Anchor knew that he needed to diffuse the situation so that it did not become a political nightmare.
“Nice shield, my love. I’m pleased that you were able to respond quickly enough to the assassination attempt to protect the Auditors Guild members.”
Senior Auditor Rick spoke before the Mage could articulate her fury. “Obviously, the protection the Archmage provided was crucial to eliminating any danger to the Auditors Guild. I hope that this embassy can enforce its protections so that such an event does not happen again.”
The captain of the Council Patrol shouted, “How can you defend her, she just killed a bunch of Auditors!” A growl swept through the room, as the assembled Marines and drinkers reacted to the accusation.
The Senior Auditor responded, saying, “Obviously, that never happened. Your scripted response is in error, and you need to withdraw gracefully. The attempt to cast blame on the Mage has failed. The Auditors Guild will be informed of the intent and the parties involved.”
Blustering, the Council force commander attempted to outshout Rick’s voice. Roaring loudly, the captain screamed, “You will be sorry. The Council has control here!”
With a thin smile on his face, Senior Auditor Rick answered, calmly stating, “I believe you are in error. This is an embassy of Borachland. As such, it functions as land within the borders of Borachland and all personnel assigned here have diplomatic immunity.”
When the man stared in dumb shock, Pawlik stood up, drawing everyone’s eyes. He said, “What the Honorable Senior Auditor Rick means is that this is Borachland property. I control High and Low Justice here. All my people have diplomatic immunity. In other words, if you try to come in to bully anyone or force something to happen here, you can just as easily go screw yourself.”
The Council forces were in disarray, they retreated in fits and starts, accompanied by many threats. The Captain only made a token protest to the Borachland security retaining the assassins. Attempting to change the situation, one of the killers called out, saying, “You promised that we would not be punished!”
The Council forces left even more rapidly, abandoning the unsuccessful assassins. As the Borachland security forces secured and arrange for transport of their enemies, Arani serenely walked down the stairs and moved over to Ruth, saying “The time with Sabina is arranged, and the Outer Keep Captain has been informed about the incoming prisoners. Is there anything else now that you would like me to do?”
Watching Rick out of the corner of her eyes, Ruth saw the man’s gaze lock onto her efficient assistant. Suppressing a smile, the Mage said, “No, I believe that is all for right now.”
For the first time, Arani let a cheerful smile break through her control, changing her face from merely pleasant to beautiful. Relaxing just a small amount, Ruth�
��s new assistant said, “This has been an amazing day. I have found so many things to organize, and I have even started a new list, a red one.”
Ruth asked in confusion, “List? What do we need a red list for? And why a red one?”
“Red is for blood. We need a list to keep track of your enemies. It would be a shame to forget any of them!”
Author Notes
Welcome to the end of the third book in the Unfettered Mage Series. This was both an exciting and terrifying book to write. As many of you know, the last year and ½ has been somewhat challenging for me personally, both for reasons of health and the stress of work. Despite that, the lives of Mage Ruth and Lord Pawlik had continued to rumble around in my brain, and I want desperately to write about them.
I was blessed to find a collaboration partner that I thought would appreciate the world that I had started to build and one would that add a new spice to the mixture that I cook up every time I write.
Gathering courage, Paul and I embarked on the book that I thought would be the planned Fleet Genesis. We soon ran into troubles. There were so many wonderful, rich ideas, but we could not do them justice by trying to cram them into a single book.
Interject lots of attempts to balance the depth that I like to create and a focused story arc. Struggles we had, but no success. Finally, I surrendered. Taking the 22,000 words that Paul supplied, I distributed them over our targeted novels.
Then I went back to writing and soon ran into the problem again. The fantastic Diane and Dorene delivered a few brisk footprints to my backside, reminding me that all of my books are as long as they need to be to show my readers the worlds in my head.
What was supposed to be Fleet Genesis has now expanded into multiple tales in the series. The next book is almost half-written and its title is Social Combat. It will be followed by Elemental Connections. We know the titles of the three after that, the very last one holding the name that this book was supposed to be, the elusive Fleet Genesis.
