by Sean Hinn
As for Sartean D’Avers… his sins would fall upon him someday, like rain, and Mila Felsin would bring the storm.
From there she had traveled to Mor, finding employment quickly. She was an intelligent, attractive young woman, even affable, despite the dark undercurrent that drove her. It had taken her less than a cycle to plan and assure her future. She would gain access to Kehrlia, where the knowledge and power she sought would be made available to her. It did not matter that she would be forced to serve under Sartean; all the better, in fact. The closer she could get to her enemy, the sooner she could discover his weaknesses. She learned what she could about the application process: she would require a sponsor, one with clout in the kingdom. It would not matter that she was not a blood relative to her benefactor. So long as they paid the necessary fee and vouched for her aptitude, her application would be considered.
She therefore arranged to serve as a maid to a wealthy man for two years, a man whose name she chose not to divulge to Earl; she did not ask for pay, only food, board, and access to his library in her personal time. In return, her patron would sponsor her application to Kehrlia when she came of age. The application fee was steep, but the bargain fair: twenty crowns, the equivalent of two years’ pay for a maid. Yet Mila knew better than to trust her employer; he had accepted too easily. She demanded the agreement be made in writing; he agreed, never fearing that the wisp of a woman before him would ever manage to have it enforced. She thanked him for his patronage and agreed to return the following morning to begin her indenture. She immediately delivered the contract to library of Kehrlia for archiving. The archival fee was a pittance, but she had no coin. A wink and a caress of the apprentice librarian’s hand, however, did the trick. “Just think…only two short years and I’ll be training beside you…”
Her caution had proven necessary. Her patron had come to lust after her. She managed to keep him at arm’s length during her tenure, always ensuring that she was in the company of others when he was about, but his advances continued. She made certain to complete any task he assigned her with fervor and diligence, lest he choose to dismiss her before her term was complete. When her term of service had been completed, refusing to admit that he would never possess her, her patron demanded to see the original contract, hoping it had been lost, or that he could somehow obtain and destroy it.
Mila politely offered to escort the man to the tower; he could view it for himself. He called her bluff. The two rode to Kehrlia in silence, descended the steps to the library, and the document was retrieved.
“Fine,” he said angrily. He threw the coins on the carpeted floor at her feet. “You have your contract, and there’s your fee. But I am still required to vouch for your aptitude. I refuse.”
Mila smiled wickedly and turned to the librarian, an elderly woman. “In what manner must my patron vouch for my, ah, aptitude?” she asked innocently.
The woman recognized the situation for what it was, returning Mila’s smile. “He need only say as much in front of any Incantor, Miss Felsin.”
“Say what, exactly?”
The woman looked at Mila’s patron. “That he believes you to possess some talent for the magical arts. In so many words.”
“I see. And are you an Incantor?”
“I am.”
“I’ll say no such thing,” her patron repeated.
Mila’s expression turned to shadow. She lifted her hand, turning her palm upwards. She moved to stand between her patron and the librarian, concealing her action from the woman.
The man’s eyes widened as he watched something hovering above Mila’s hand. A glow brightened his expression in the faintly lit library. First it showed surprise, followed by revulsion. Then, terror.
“I VOUCH FOR YOUR APTITUDE!” he screamed, running from the library.
~
“What did you do to him?” asked Earl, his first words since she began her tale.
“Oh, nothing. Nothing at all. I merely showed him a vision of what I would do to him, should he decide not to honor our bargain.”
Earl shook his head. “Ya know, you had me feeling pretty damned sorry for you up to that point. That’s why I hate magic.”
“That’s ridiculous,” argued Mila.
“Fury it is. You used your power to make that man do your bidding. That ain’t right.”
“We had an agreement, Earl. It was him that chose not to honor it.”
“Yeah, well, people do that. Doesn’t mean you get to terrify them into doing what you want.”
“Really? And what would you do, Earl? What would you do if you spent two years of your life serving a man, and he refused to pay you?”
Earl huffed. “Well, I’d beat it right out of him. But I wouldn’t use no spells.”
“Yet I did not harm him. And your way is more honorable?”
Earl chewed on the idea. He could not argue the point.
“Fine. But I still don’t like the idea of somebody havin’ all that power. Just look what Sartean does with it.”
“Earl, don’t you see? That’s exactly why I’ve done everything I’ve done. So I can stop him.”
“Oh, I figured out that much. But in tryin’ to stop the bastard, you’ve become him. Or close enough to it.”
Mila sat back from the desk, meeting Earl’s hazel eyes.
“You’re right.”
Earl blinked.
“I mean it. You’re right. I’ve spent the day thinking about this, about all of it. I’ve become a monster.”
Earl did not speak.
“That’s why I showed you the vision of… about my parents. You understand, no one has ever seen that. No one.”
Earl considered the sorceress. “Listen, I don’t mean to be cruel here, Mila. I can’t begin to understand what it’s like to be you. But you showed me that to justify what you’re doing. And it doesn’t.”
“No. That is not why I showed you.”
“Why, then?”
Mila paused, searching for the right words. She found them, though they would be difficult to say aloud. She spoke them regardless.
“I showed you that, Earl, because I look at you… I look at you, and I see what I am.”
“That makes no sense. I’m nothing like you.”
“Exactly. You are an honorable man. You know how many honorable men I’ve met in my life?”
“Sounds like not many.”
“None. Save my father, but in truth, I barely knew him; for all I know he was a monster underneath as well. But you…” she looked away. Earl remained silent. “You come in here and drop a coin on my desk. Probably the only coin you have. Am I right?”
Earl nodded.
“Yet you would walk away from it. Go back to Mor, destitute. Risk my wrath. Tell me why.”
“You know why.”
“Say it anyway.”
Earl took a breath. “Because this is wrong. What you’re doing is wrong. People have died, and if you keep it up, Fury knows how many more will. I won’t be a part of it. I won’t.”
“Even if I threatened you? Even if I held you up against the wall like that Incantor?”
“Lady, I don’t care if you burn the skin from my bones. I won’t kill for coin, and that’s all this job is.”
“That’s what I mean! That’s what honor is. That’s what righteousness is. I see that in you, Earl, and it shames me. Look at me! I’m… well, I am this thing, this… driven animal.” This is not who I want to be!
Earl heard her send the thought. “Well, then, stop it.”
It was Mila’s turn to blink.
“Just, I dunno, stop it. Shut the whole thing down.”
Mila shook her head, her tone condescending. “Earl, it is not that easy.”
Earl stood, suddenly angry. “See?” He jabbed a finger accusingly at Mila. “That right there, that’s the difference between me and you. Damn, woman, it’s simple as a stone! You’re a bleedin’ sorceress, smart as they come. You talk down to me like I’m some fool, but it’
s daylight clear to me. Stop growing those damned weeds! Help those farmers you’ve got hooked on your poison. Fix ’em, somehow. Heal ’em. You’ve got magic, and plenty of it, seems to me. Get those Incantors of yours together, order ’em to help. They work for you, don’t they? ’Sides, not one of ’em likes what they’re doin’.”
“If I do that, Earl, I’m declaring open war against Sartean.”
“So declare war! Isn’t that your aim, anyways? What are you waiting for?”
“I…” Mila forced her next words. “I am not certain I am powerful enough yet to defeat him.”
“See! And there you go again! Lookin’ out for your own hide.” Earl leaned on the desk, his face mere fingers from Mila’s. “Mila. Listen to me. I came in here knowin’ you might just burn my arse to ash for defying you. And I was ready to burn. The right thing is the right thing, no matter what it might cost.”
Mila nodded. “I know, Earl. I know. I’m not afraid to die. But if I fail, and Sartean lives…”
Earl whispered at the sorceress. “Then don’t fail, Mila. Get help if you need to. Who says you need to do this all by yourself? You think you’re the only kid orphaned by that twisted wizard?”
“There is no one who would help me. No one. Not against Sartean.”
“Well, I don’t believe that. But no matter what, you gotta stop this madness. You have to. I’ll tell you right now, if you don’t, so help me, I will. Somehow.”
“Then that is what we will do. Will you help me, Earl?”
Earl shook his head. “What can I do? I’m no wizard. You need a wagon loaded, fine, but–”
Mila reach up to touch Earl’s face. He did not pull away.
“I do not need you to load wagons, Earl. I just… I just need you. I don’t think I can do this alone.”
Earl took his seat. They shared a quiet moment.
“Well, I ’spose I don’t have a better offer just this second. I’ll help you. But if you don’t see this through… well, then you’re lost. For good. You can’t pretend you don’t know any better now. You can’t pretend you’re on some noble mission, not if you don’t start acting noble.”
Mila nodded, eyes again welling with tears. “Thank you, Earl. Thank you. I will do this.”
Earl sat back in the chair. “I’ll tell you right now, Mila. I don’t exactly trust you. But I’ll keep my word and help, so long as you keep yours. Maybe you’ll prove me wrong.”
Mila nodded. Maybe.
XX: BELGORNE
Kari Flint and her uncle Latimer’s company of scouts crumpled upon hearing of King Garne’s suicide. The king had been universally respected in Belgorne; he would be missed dearly. More, the death of the king served as a final, cruel affirmation that Belgorne had indeed fallen, despite many of its halls remaining intact.
For a time, the dwarves sat across from one another at the long dining table, speaking of lost family: fathers, mothers, siblings, children… They all shared the same dire truth with one another; they were each the last of their families, save Kari and Lat. Their worlds, their lives, would never be the same. After a quiet turn, Jade turned to her captain.
“Cap.”
The elderly captain gave the sergeant his attention.
“Ye think it should be J’arn on the Sovereign.”
“Aye,” he said plainly.
“Prince Dohr’s too impulsive,” agreed Lux. “Lacks the right temper.”
“Aye,” the captain agreed.
“I don’t s’pose J’arn’s gonna bend his knee to that one when he gets back from Thornwood,” asserted Kari.
“No chance in Fury,” said Jade. “Prince J’arn gets back, this will all come to a head.”
“That’s what I be afraid of,” said the captain. “And that’s why I need ye all to do something for Belgorne. Something important.”
“Anything, sir,” said Jade. Her scouts nodded agreement.
“I’ll need ye as well, Kari.”
“Me?”
“Aye. Now listen.” The captain lowered his voice. “Ye all know what’s gonna happen next. Dohr’s gonna send us off to clean out G’naath. Problem is, we can’t take it.”
“Fury we can’t, Cap,” sad Nova. “The gnomes be no match for us.” The rest of the company signaled agreement.
“With our full strength, in fair and open battle, I’d never doubt it. But we’re at half strength, less even. And the battle won’t be open, and it won’t be fair.”
“How’s that?” asked Jasper.
Kari understood. “Think about it,” she chimed in. “They’re dug in. Sittin’ pretty over there in their tunnels. And if they truly be to blame for the quakes–”
“Ye think like a soldier, Kari. Ye be exactly right,” said Lat. “If they are to blame for this abomination, they’ll be wieldin’ a power we can’t hope to stand against. Not by a sight.”
“And if they aren’t to blame, we’ll be murderers plain as day,” said Nova grimly. “Won’t matter if we win. Not to me, at least.”
Jade shook her head. “I be inclined to agree with Dohr on that point,” she stated. “No question G’naath is to blame for what be happenin’ here.”
Captain Flint disagreed. “Ye be thinking with anger, Jade. We don’t know a damned thing, not yet. ‘Cept probably some in G’naath be to blame. The quakes, the fire pits, all of it…this be dark magic–”
“See there! I said as much,” said Jasper, vindicated.
“Aye, and ye probably be right,” said the captain. “But the gnomes, most of ’em anyways, they stand dead against such things. I know it fer fact; I been to G’naath a hundred times for one reason or another. Camped with their hunters. I know their legends as well as any gnome. Even had a… well, a friend, once. Ye can take me word for it, if there be gnomes be meddling in dark magic, they sure as stone ain’t doin’ it out in the open. They’d be strung up.”
“Don’t see how it matters, Cap,” said Jade. “We can’t just sit around and let G’naath bury us, just ’cause we don’t wanna hurt the good ones.”
“Aye, neither can we do that. Which is why I need ye, all of ye, to go to G’naath and find Cindra Sandshingle.”
“The old witch?” asked Jasper. “She ain’t dead yet?”
“She ain’t a witch, and she ain’t dead! Leastways far as I know. But ye can bet a bag, if there be dark magic floatin’ around them tunnels, Cindra Sandshingle will know it, and she’ll not be of a mind to let it be.”
“You know her,” Kari said plainly.
Her uncle Lat nodded. “Knew her. Once. Never mind that. Point is, I need ye to go to her, and bring her that axe.” He looked to where the blood-dipped weapon rested on the bar.
“Why the axe?” asked Ferris.
“Because she’ll know what to do with it. I’ll say no more on the matter.”
“Why do ye need me to go, Uncle? I’m no scout.”
The dwarf regarded his niece, his expression grave. “Now ye listen to me, Kari Flint. Ye be the last Flint alive, and me only blood. If ye stay here, ye’ll die under the mountain. If ye join the camps outside o’ Belgorne, ye’ll die of starvation, likely before winter’s out. I want ye to go with Jade and her scouts to G’naath, do as I ask, and then make yer way to the elves at the Grove. That’s where J’arn was headed, and I want ye all to join up with him and back him, as best ye can.”
“Ye be sayin’ we should desert Belgorne, Cap?” asked Lux, visibly upset by the idea.
“No Lux. Belgorne’s lost. I be askin’ ye to go to your rightful king, and give him whatever help he needs.”
“Sounds to me like ye just be tryin’ to get me outta harm’s way, Uncle.”
The captain responded after a pause. “Aye, that as well. And I’ll not be sorry for it.”
“Cap,” said Jade. “Did Brandaxe sign off on this?”
Captain Flint shot a look at the woman. “Do ye truly want me to answer that, Sergeant?”
She paused, briefly sharing a look with the dwarves in her com
mand. “Aye,” she said, her features determined.
“He did not.”
Jade nodded. And so we choose sides, she considered silently. She turned to her scouts. “Well, ye know the whole truth of it, then,” she said. “Can’t be said ye didn’t. And ye know what this means.” She paused to allow the gravity of the decision they faced to take hold. “Ye can make yer own choices.” She shot a glance at Lux. “But I’ll be doing as me captain asks.”
Lux spoke without delay. “Well, I can’t let ye go runnin’ off half-cocked without protection. I’m in.”
“Jade goes, I go,” said Ferris.
Nova shrugged. “Ye sure as stone ain’t leavin’ me alone with Jasper. Count me in.”
All eyes were on Jasper. “Kari, will ye be goin’?” he asked.
She nodded. “If Lat wants me to go, I’ll go.”
“Hmph.” He downed his horn. “If the last tavern in Belgorne’s gonna be closin’, no point stickin’ around.”
“Uncle? Ye’ll be coming with, won’t ye?”
“I will not, Kari.”
“Well, why in Fury not?”
The captain did not reply.
Jade stared at the floor. “Because he’ll slow us down,” she said on his behalf.
“Aye,” Lat agreed.
Kari paled. “Uncle Lat, no–”
Jade stood. Her scouts followed her lead.
“Please, Uncle Lat, come with us,” Kari pleaded, reaching for his hand.
“Kari,” said Jade sternly. Kari looked to the woman, her eyes red and moist. “If ye be joinin’ me company ye’ll be under my command, and I’ll need ye to hear me.”
Kari did her best to straighten herself. She nodded.
“Your uncle has served Belgorne for a long time. He’s earned the right to seek Stonarris in the manner he chooses.”
The captain eyed his sergeant. “Thank ye, Sergeant,” said the captain, turning to watch the tears fall from his niece’s face.
Jade’s voice took on an air of command. “We leave now,” she ordered, “before we’re missed.” Kari stood; the sergeant looked down to the floor. “Those boots o’ yours gonna hold up?”
