The Heart of Alchemy

by James E. Wisher

  “Consider this a learning opportunity,” Otto said, speaking as the voice of experience. “All the mistakes you made with Jade, you can avoid when the next woman comes strolling into your life.”

  “How can I ever trust another woman? How can I even trust the women in my harem?”

  “As to the women in your harem, you can trust them because one of my agents procured them and I interviewed them myself to make certain they had no hidden agendas. I assure you, given where they came from, living a life of luxury in the palace is a huge improvement. When the next noble lass catches your eye, let me talk to her before you grow too attached. At the very least I can find out if she secretly wants to kill you.”

  Wolfric barked a humorless laugh, breaking some of the grim mood. “Fair enough. Now, shall we see what this treacherous witch has to say for herself?”

  “Splendid idea.” Otto wove a dome of silence then bound Jade so she didn’t try anything foolish when he removed her gag.

  As soon as she finished coughing, Otto set the colored wheel to spinning in front of her. Like any normal woman without magic to protect her mind, Jade succumbed in short order.

  When she was fully under, he asked, “Who sent you?”

  “The Coiled Serpent,” she said in a dull monotone.

  Wolfric looked at Otto and asked, “Who the hell are they?”

  Otto shrugged. He’d never heard the name before today. “And who is that?”

  “The assassins guild I serve.”

  “Who hired you?”

  “Eddred of Markane.”

  Wolfric’s fist slammed into the cell door, rattling it in its frame. “I swear, if I ever get my hands on him…”

  Otto shared that sentiment, though he’d be just as happy to have Eddred knifed in a back alley somewhere, anywhere, as long as he was removed.

  “Tell me about the Coiled Serpent,” Otto said when Wolfric had gotten himself under control.

  “We contract most of our jobs in the City of Coins. Our agents are all over the world, though most aren’t assassins, just spies and information gatherers. Our leader sets the price of a target and an assassin or team of assassins are dispatched to eliminate that target.”

  More out of curiosity than anything Otto asked, “How much were we worth?”

  “Two hundred pounds of gold each.”

  Wolfric grinned. “At least we weren’t cheap.”

  “Indeed.” Otto returned his attention to Jade. “Now that you’ve failed, what will happen?”

  “Another team will be dispatched as soon as it becomes clear that we’ve failed.”

  “How long do we have?”

  “Impossible to say.”

  “Having to worry about assassins for the rest of my life holds no appeal,” Wolfric said.

  “For me either. I may have to go to the City of Coins and deal with the assassins permanently. If I need to burn the whole city down in the process, I can live with that.”

  “I’ll be joining you on the journey,” Wolfric said. Before Otto could argue he continued. “It will be safer than staying here where an assassin might jump out at me at any moment.”

  He had a point and Otto didn’t feel like arguing. “Fair enough. I’ll gather the war wizards and we’ll head to Rolan to commandeer a ship. From there it’s less than a week to sail to the city. When we’re finished, they’ll wish they’d never accepted that contract.”

  Otto turned his focus back to Jade. “How do you recognize each other?”

  “We have marks, serpents, tattooed on the inside of our lower lips.”

  “All your agents or just the assassins?”

  “Just the assassins. Most of our agents are simple mercenaries. They care only for our gold.”

  “Interesting.” He scratched his cheek before turning to Wolfric. “Do you have any more questions for her?”

  “No. Before we go, I want to see her publicly hung.”

  “That might not be the best idea,” Otto said.

  Wolfric glared at him. “Surely you don’t think we should let her go.”

  “Of course not. I think we should kill her and toss her body in one of the foundries. We don’t need everyone knowing what happened here. The baron wants his family saved and will do anything to make that happen. Convincing him to say Jade met with an accident on their way home to collect some family heirloom for the wedding will be simple enough. You can play the grieving lover and make the people love you all the more.”

  “We turn her betrayal into something of value for us.” Wolfric rubbed his face. “I wonder if I shall ever come to think as clearly as you. I’ll leave the arrangements in your care. The sight of her sickens me.”

  “As you wish.” While he forced reluctance into his tone, having Wolfric out from underfoot would only make completing the many tasks ahead of him simpler.

  That said, he didn’t want Wolfric losing all his confidence. Otto reached into his pocket and pulled out the atomizer he’d taken earlier. “I took this from her room at the villa. It’s an alchemical solution designed to weaken your mind and make you more susceptible to suggestion. Don’t be too hard on yourself, my friend. No one could have recognized what she was doing.”

  Wolfric grunted, seeming less than reassured.

  Probably best to move on. He pocketed the perfume and said, “When I’ve found the ships we need, we’ll leave for Rolan and set sail for the City of Coins and revenge.”

  Chapter 19

  Otto and Wolfric rode into Port Palomino on the Rolan coast at the head of a column of fifty war wizards, along with Corina, Hans and his squad, and a company of royal guards. The city had an actual wall, a rarity in Rolan given the sparse forests. The warmth and fresh sea air did wonders for everyone’s mood. Even Wolfric had relaxed a fraction, though he still scowled far more than he smiled.

  Six days had passed since their discussion with Jade. She and all her co-conspirators were now so much ash thanks to a convenient foundry that did some side work for Sin and her guild. Otto had also rescued Baron St. Croy’s family. The grateful baron had eagerly agreed to spread the word of Jade’s tragic accident. Before setting out through the portal, Otto had ordered Sin and Allen to try and track down anyone associated with the Coiled Serpent.

  “Your Majesty, Lord Shenk!” Oskar came marching their way. The spy must have been waiting just inside the gate.

  “Who is this again?” Wolfric asked.

  “One of our agents. He placed the patch on Rolan’s portal and has been keeping an eye on the province for us.” Otto waved him over and the royal guards made a path. “You found ships for us?”

  “I did. Not the most awe-inspiring vessels, but both are seaworthy and will carry you safely to your destination. Given the time crunch, I couldn’t afford to be fussy.”

  “Don’t worry, Oskar,” Otto said. “The war wizards will make up for any deficiencies the ships might suffer. Show us the way.”

  The column marched behind Oskar to the docks, where a pair of double-masted sailing ships were tied up at the farthest-out piers. The spy hadn’t lied about their rough condition. Neither looked like it had seen a drop of paint in years. Despite living on the water, the sailors watching them dismount didn’t look overly familiar with a bath.

  “There’s still time to remain behind,” Otto said to Wolfric.

  The emperor just shook his head. “I will see this through if I have to sail with the Reaper himself.”

  Arguing with him would be pointless so the group divided itself up and climbed aboard. Otto hung back with Oskar and said, “I assume you vetted these men?”

  “As well as I could in the few days I had. Both are merchant men and neither has any dealing with the city as far as I can determine. They care nothing for politics, only my promise of gold. Besides, how stupid would they have to be to betray a ship full of wizards?”

  “Fair point. Look after our horses. With any luck we should have this wrapped up in a couple weeks.”

  “Count on me, m
y lord.”

  Otto clapped him on the shoulder and hurried up the gangplank where an impatient Wolfric stood tapping his toe. “I assume we can leave now?”

  “As far as I’m concerned. Oskar will take care of things here.”

  Ready though they were, the ships stayed in dock for another hour before the tide and wind were correct for launch. As soon as they were, the ships set sail.

  Otto stood beside Corina near the rail and out of the sailors’ way. He wasn’t going to pretend to be happy about going to sea again so soon, but the assassin threat wouldn’t wait. He swallowed a sigh. Things had been going so well up until now.

  While he might find torture distasteful, if he ever got his hands on Eddred of Markane, he might just make an exception.

  Chapter 20

  “I had always heard that the walls of the City of Coins were impressive,” Wolfric said. “It seems that was no exaggeration. How will we get inside?”

  Otto and Wolfric stood in the front of the first ship and studied the distant city. Even from several miles away, the walls looked massive in the midday sun. Otto guessed their height at several hundred feet and probably another hundred thick. The only way in was the port. When they were raised, the walls were built solid without gate. They ran from the ocean’s edge in a semicircle back to the shore again. Even worse, enchantments had been woven into the stone to protect it from magical attack.

  The harbor didn’t look any easier to approach. A pair of massive towers held a chain that could rise to block any ships from entering and they were protected by the same magic as the walls.

  “We don’t necessarily have to get inside,” Otto said. “We can just burn it down from a distance, assuming they refuse to give us what we want. After all, the city isn’t our enemy, the assassins are.”

  “If the city’s rulers are giving shelter to the assassins, then they are our enemy as well.” Wolfric crossed his arms and his face settled into that hard, stubborn scowl Otto had come to know and dislike.

  “I’m confident that once we explain their situation, whoever’s in charge of the city will do the right thing. They may need a bit of coaxing, but that’s what we brought the war wizards for.”

  “Sail off the starboard bow!” the lookout called from above.

  Otto sent his sight out over the water and quickly spotted the small sloop headed their way. It held a dozen sailors and one wizard. Not an attack force then, probably someone coming to ask their intentions and decide if they could be trusted to enter the harbor.

  He blinked his sight back and said, “The welcoming committee. They can carry our message back to their masters.”

  “They won’t try something foolish, will they?” Wolfric asked. Otto couldn’t decide if he was hoping they’d attack or concerned that they might.

  “Not with the tiny force they’ve sent, assuming they’re not suicidal. I suspect it’s a formality for visiting merchants. Either way, we’ll know soon enough. Captain, slow us down and prepare to receive guests.”

  There was a shout of acknowledgement followed by orders to do things with the sails. Otto still didn’t fully understand the processes aboard ship and he didn’t especially care to. As long as the sailors knew their business and got him where he wanted to go, that was enough.

  Ten minutes later even those on deck could see the approaching ship. They were lowering their own sails and slowing as they came closer.

  “Do you want to do the talking or shall I?” Otto asked.

  “You start and I’ll jump in if I want to add anything,” Wolfric said.

  Otto nodded and a few minutes later a rope ladder was lowered to the smaller sloop. The wizard climbed up first. She wore a crisp sailor’s uniform in white and gold with polished black boots. A shield of modest power surrounded her. If that was the extent of her power, then she represented no threat.

  When she stepped aside, an older man Otto assumed commanded the ship joined her on deck. He wore an identical uniform, though his stretched tight across a massive chest. Tattoos covered his bare arms and a brass-hilted arming sword dangled from his hip.

  “Welcome to the City of Coins,” the man said with a bright, warm smile that seemed totally out of place on his blocky, scarred face. “I’m Captain Hotic of the city navy. What have you come to trade?”

  “My name is Otto Shenk of the New Garen Empire. We are here because a group of assassins called the Coiled Serpent attempted to kill the emperor and myself. Your leaders allow them to operate openly in the city. We require that all members of that group be turned over to us for punishment.”

  A much more appropriate scowl replaced the captain’s smile. “We don’t take kindly to demands. All are welcome to do business here. What happens outside our walls does not concern us. If you have a problem with assassins in your empire, that is hardly our concern. I suggest that if you have nothing to trade, you turn your ships around and sail back where you came from before we send you to the bottom of the sea.”

  Wolfric stepped in front of Otto. “And I suggest that you tell whoever’s in charge that they’d best hand over the people I want or we’ll burn the city down, assassins and all. You have until sunrise tomorrow.”

  The female wizard started a spell.

  The moment she did, Otto crushed her shield, wrapped a tentacle of ether around her neck, and drove her to her knees. “None of that, now. We only need your captain to deliver our message. Behave, or he can take your body back as a warning.”

  Her magic clawed at his tentacle, but her feeble power didn’t come close to breaking his grip.

  The captain went for his sword.

  He only drew it halfway before Borden and Hans both had their own weapons at his throat.

  “I suggest you calm down,” Otto said. “Before you make us do something you’ll regret.”

  Captain Hotic eased his half-drawn sword back into its sheath and Otto released his grip on the wizard.

  “That’s better,” Otto said. “Now, tell whoever’s in charge of your city what we said. I assure you it’s no idle threat. We’ve brought enough war wizards to do the job with some to spare. Your wizard can confirm that’s the truth. Now run along.”

  The pair climbed back into the sloop and Otto shoved the ships apart. He doubted the city fathers would see reason right away. Some people needed a slap in the face from reality. They’d have to keep a close watch tonight lest the enemy try something foolish.

  Chapter 21

  Captain Hotic stood outside the door to the city council chamber. The cool, stone room at the heart of the government building served as the seat of the city government. The lords of the city decided everything here. He clasped his hands behind his back, less for protocol than to keep them from shaking. He considered himself a brave man. In theory, anyway. The truth was, he’d never seen combat.

  People came to the city to trade. None of them wanted trouble, only gold. And the undead infesting the desert hadn’t found a way into the city since before his grandfather was born. They had known peace for centuries. Who would have believed foreigners from the north would be the ones to change that?

  Not him, certainly. He spoke with merchants from many kingdoms on a weekly basis. He’d heard news of the empire’s formation, but didn’t imagine it would change anything for them. How wrong he’d been.

  Now he found himself in the great stone building at the center of the city where the lords decided everything from taxes to who to bar from the harbor. He didn’t want to be here. No one in their right mind sought the attention of the lords. But his duty was clear. As the senior officer of his ship, he had to report the threat.

  “Captain?”

  He’d been so focused on his worries that he hadn’t noticed the beautiful aide that had emerged from the council chamber. Thin, nearly sheer blue fabric covered her mahogany skin and lush curves. One of the benefits of being a lord of the city was having the most beautiful servants to wait on your every whim.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

&
nbsp; “They’ll see you now.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She smiled, flashing perfect white teeth. “Try to calm down. Despite their fierce reputation, our masters are not the sort to punish someone out of hand. They value loyalty and you have been a loyal servant, have you not?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She shook her head and led him into the council chamber. The inside was dark and it took a moment for his eyes to adjust. When they did, he saw the six masked lords of the city. They wore billowing robes in addition to the masks to disguise their identities. Each oversaw a single aspect of the government and they worked together to ensure business went on as it should.

  “Captain, your message sounded urgent,” Lord of the Watch said. “Please, tell us what has happened.”

  He did so, detailing his brief encounter with the imperials. When he finished, he said, “According to my ship’s wizard, they have over two score wizards on their ships led by the most powerful wizard she has ever encountered. They want the Coiled Serpent assassins turned over to them by morning or they threaten to burn the city to the ground.”

  “Of all the arrogance,” Lord of the Watch said. “The City of Coins has stood since the fall of the Arcane Lords. If these northern fools think we will fall so easily, they had best think again.”

  “How many wizards can we field?” Lord of the Scale asked.

  Lord of the Staff grimaced. “Twenty, twenty-five if we send the apprentices as well. But they need only defend. That is a far easier task than attacking. We’ll let the invaders exhaust their wizards then our harbor fleet will sail out to sink them.”

  Lord of the Watch nodded eagerly. “My soldiers are the finest anywhere. They train to fight undead horrors that would turn an ordinary man’s guts to water. Mere humans will pose no challenge.”

  Hotic’s throat tightened. They wanted him and his fellow captains to sail out and attack the imperials? If they held anything back, his people would be sitting ducks. And even if they made it to the ships, he’d seen the skill with which their warriors moved. Mortal men or not, this would be no easy fight.