The Heart of Alchemy

by James E. Wisher

  When ships bearing Garenland wizards sailed within sight of the harbor, Eddred hardly believed what he was seeing. He’d thought by now that both Wolfric and Otto would be dead at the hands of the assassins he’d hired. Apparently he’d been overly optimistic. Now the enemy was here and he could only think of one reason why.

  They’d learned where the assassins came from.

  The fireballs that eventually started flying made the truth of the situation quickly clear. Eddred blamed himself. If he’d just let it all go instead of looking for revenge, none of this would have happened.

  He shook his head. If he hadn’t contacted the assassins, Lord Valtan would have found someone else to do it. The Arcane Lord was even more determined than Eddred to kill Wolfric and Otto.

  Well, Otto anyway. Whatever the young wizard found in Colt’s Land had really put a scare into Valtan. And a frightened Valtan was something Eddred never wanted to see again.

  A scream shattered the darkness.

  Below him, figures moved in the night. A woman came running out of an alley into the light, a gray-skinned, misshapen figure galloping after her.

  Eddred had never seen one of the undead that infested the deserts beyond the city’s walls, but he’d heard tales enough to recognize one of them. How did the creature get inside?

  The obvious answer came to him a moment later. Otto Shenk had let them in. More repayment for the assassins that had tried to claim his life. After the battering they’d taken during the bombardment, he doubted the city’s wizards would be in any shape to fend off an attack by undead. And damned if Eddred was going to have any more lives on his conscience.

  He darted back into his room, buckled on his sword, and shot out into the hall. Eddred paused long enough to slam his fist on the door across from him. It opened a moment later.

  “Your Majesty?” said Adam, one of his two wizard bodyguards.

  “Wake Lilly, there are undead in the city and I mean to hunt them down. I’ll fetch Uther while you two are getting ready.”

  “Is that wise?” Adam asked. “Neither I nor Lilly have any experience fighting undead. Lord Valtan never instructed us how. We don’t even know any offensive spells.”

  “Then we’ll learn together. My actions brought this mess on the city, and I have to do something to make it right. In two minutes, I’m going out there, with or without you two.”

  Adam ran to wake his partner. Eddred left him to it and went down another door. He had barely knocked when the door opened, revealing the scruffy face of Uther of Straken. His chest was bare and it looked like he had just gotten out of bed.

  “What’s going on now?” Uther asked. “I heard enough screams outside to do a torture chamber proud.”

  “Undead in the city. I’m going out to fight them. Will you help?”

  Uther snorted a laugh. “I’ve seen your bladework. All you’re going to do is get yourself killed. Let the city guards handle it. That’s what they’re paid for.”

  He had a point about Eddred’s sword skills, but that didn’t matter, not tonight. “This is all my fault. I have to do something to help.”

  “Then I’d best go with you. It’s not like I have the coin to pay for this room on my own.”

  A little over two minutes later the four of them strode out of the inn into the now-silent street. Three bodies lay in pools of blood a little ways away. Chunks had been taken out of them, bitten out most likely.

  “Where are they?” Eddred asked.

  Adam and Lilly closed their eyes and a faint glow surrounded them as they wove the ether.

  “I sense eight,” Adam said at last. “They’re spread out all over the city.”

  “The nearest is four blocks north,” Lilly added.

  That was enough for Eddred. He drew his sword and marched north.

  The streets remained quiet for three blocks. The only people they encountered were those that dared peek out from behind their closed curtains. All he got was the impression of terrified, pale faces that sagged with relief when they saw Eddred and his companions instead of an undead horror.

  They rounded a corner onto the fourth block and there it was. The gray-skinned creature stood in the center of the street, an arm dangling limp and half eaten in its right hand. Judging from the ragged strips of flesh dangling from its shoulder, Eddred guessed it had been ripped off its former owner. He shuddered at the strength that must have taken.

  “We’ll try to slow it down,” Adam said. “What little I know indicates that you have to cut its head off to kill it.”

  Eddred tightened his grip on his sword and glanced at Uther who nodded.

  The two men separated and came at it from opposite directions. The monster watched them with its glowing red eyes, seeming untroubled by a pair of armed warriors stalking toward it.

  Ether streaked past them and wrapped around the undead’s arms, legs, and chest.

  It finally snarled and thrashed, tossing the arm away in its fury to escape.

  “Hurry, Your Majesty,” Lilly said, her voice strained. “We can’t hold it for long.”

  Eddred charged and swung with all his might towards the creature’s neck.

  Despite the magic binding it, the monster raised an arm in time to intercept his strike.

  The keen edge of Eddred’s sword slammed into the withered limb and barely cut it. He’d hit softer oak logs.

  Uther hacked at it from the opposite side, carving a groove in its side, but doing no real damage.

  The beast roared and swung its clawed hand at Eddred.

  He leapt back, avoiding the blow.

  Uther took up the assault, actually landing a slash to its neck that barely made a crease.

  How in heaven’s name were they going to kill the monster when their weapons barely scratched it?

  Eddred looked back at Adam and Lilly. “Can you two make our weapons more effective? We’re never going to stop it like this.”

  “We can, Majesty, but not while binding the monster,” Lilly said.

  “Then let it go. Uther! Fall back!”

  Uther gave the undead beast a final, ineffective whack before disengaging and backing away to join Eddred. “Do we have a plan?”

  “Adam and Lilly are going to release the creature and enhance our weapons instead.”

  Uther winced. “I’m not sure that’s a good plan. Didn’t you feel how strong that thing is? One solid blow is apt to break bone if not kill us outright.”

  “It’s the only way. Once they’re exhausted it’ll be free and we won’t have them to increase the potency of our blades.”

  “Ah, hell. Fine, let’s go for it.”

  “On three, Majesty,” Adam said.

  The wizard counted down. On three, the ethereal flow shifted.

  The instant it was free, the undead charged them.

  It was faster than Eddred expected.

  Uther stepped in front and swung his sword.

  The monster raised its arm to defend. The bright steel struck home, slicing its arm off at the elbow.

  No blood spurted and the beast didn’t even slow.

  Taken off guard by its lack of reaction, Uther was too slow to defend.

  A clawed hand sliced him across the chest. Twisted magic exploded out of the undead’s fingertips into Uther. The prince’s body went rigid as he collapsed.

  The undead raised its hand to finish him off.

  Eddred charged in and swung.

  His blade bit deep into its neck, sending its head falling to the earth with a plop. The body collapsed a moment later.

  Adam and Lilly hurried over.

  “Are you well, Majesty?” Lilly asked.

  “Well enough. Check on Uther.”

  Adam did so. After a moment he said, “The wounds are shallow. We just have to wait for the paralysis to wear off.”

  “Where’s the next one?” Eddred asked.

  Lilly shook her head. “I’m not sure. That battle drained me. I doubt I have strength enough to enhance your bl
ade again, much less bind one of those things. I think our night is over.”

  “But there are more of them,” Eddred said.

  “And there are others to deal with them,” Adam said. “Dying tonight will do nothing to help the people of this city.”

  Eddred slumped to the stone street. Adam was right of course. Dying might assuage his guilt, but it would help no one. And taking his companions with him was hardly the honorable thing.

  “So be it,” Eddred said at last. “We tried anyway.”

  His smile was bitter, humorless, and directed mostly at himself.

  We tried anyway. That should be their motto.

  All he ever did was try and fail.

  Chapter 26

  Captain Hotic once more found himself summoned to the lords’ council. This time the messenger came for him before the sun had risen. Not that he’d been asleep. Reports of the undead attacks throughout the city had reached the docks and all the captains and crews were on full alert lest the ships be threatened.

  None of the ghouls had come their way, thank heaven, but from what he’d heard, the rest of the city watch had been decimated trying to kill the creatures.

  So he couldn’t claim the summons had surprised him. Now, he stood in a dark corner and tried to go unnoticed. Lord of the Watch had only just taken his seat and the others were staring at him.

  “Explain yourself,” Lord of the Scales said, at last breaking the fragile silence. “What happened to your boasting about training to fight monsters and that human warriors would be no trouble?”

  “Our training is based on manuals from the ancient times,” Lord of the Watch said, all traces of his former confidence long gone. “We followed it to the letter, but the creatures proved stronger than we ever imagined. After the bombardment, our wizards were in no shape to help. The reality of fighting undead proved far worse than I ever imagined.”

  “And our losses?” Lord of the Scale asked.

  “Sixty-three watchmen and over four hundred citizens. I don’t have the final number yet. As best we can tell, only nine ghouls made it into the city.”

  This brought murmurs of concern from the other lords. Hotic shared that concern. If only nine of them did this much damage, what would happen if ten times that many made it into the city? He shuddered to think.

  “I won’t ask how they got over the wall,” Lord of the Scale said. “I think we can all guess who the responsibility lies with. Ladies and gentlemen, I fear we must face the harsh reality. Another day and night of fighting the invaders may well be the end of our city. Though it pains me to suggest this, I fear there is no choice but to give in to their demands.”

  “That will ruin our reputation,” Lord of the Earth said. “No one will trust us to do business again.”

  “May I make a suggestion?”

  Hotic snapped his head around at the unexpected voice. An ancient man with a thin white mustache hanging down his chest stepped out of the shadows. So still and silent had he been that Hotic hadn’t even known he was there.

  “Grandfather Edge,” Lord of the Scale said. “Please, if you have anything to offer don’t hesitate to speak up. That’s why I asked you here.”

  Hotic swallowed the lump in his throat. This was Grandfather Edge, the leader of the assassins guild and, some said, most favored of the Reaper himself.

  “Let me go to the outlanders. I will offer to rescind the contract and never take another on them. They will be safe from my followers, which, I assume, is what they really want.”

  “I have no objection,” Lord of the Scale said. He looked around at the other lords, but no one spoke. Finally, he turned to Hotic. “You will transport Grandfather to the invaders’ ship. They are familiar with you and will recognize you as a messenger.”

  Hotic hoped the lord was right. He figured there was a better than fifty percent chance that they sunk his boat on sight.

  Chapter 27

  “Sail ho!” the lookout called from his post far above the deck.

  Otto had only been up for a few minutes when the cry rang out. He tossed his half-eaten breakfast aside and sprang to his feet. His vision shot out over the water towards the sloop headed their way. It was the one that had approached them when they arrived, only this time lacking a wizard. She had probably been reassigned to the wall.

  He let his vision drift over to the captain then added his voice and hearing. “State your purpose.”

  The poor man nearly leapt out of his skin. When he’d recovered a modicum of composure he said, “I have a proposal from the city lords. May my ship approach so we can talk?”

  Otto saw no harm in that though if they offered anything less than total capitulation, he doubted Wolfric would accept. “Very well, but behave yourself. I have no particular desire to kill you, but I won’t hesitate to do so.”

  “Understood. You’ll find that none of my crew is armed.”

  Otto glanced at the rest of the men on board. None of them carried so much as a belt knife. A prudent decision. Far better for everyone if there were no misunderstandings.

  “Bring your ship along our right side. I’ll have someone waiting with a ladder.”

  Otto returned his senses to his body. “Captain, we’re about to have visitors. Have men standing by to help them aboard.”

  Once he received an affirmative reply, Otto went back below deck to fetch Wolfric.

  Ten minutes later, Otto, Wolfric, Hans, Borden and a force of soldiers had gathered on deck. The messenger sloop was tied up and the captain as well as an older man climbed on board. Hotic wore a white and gold uniform that was already plastered to him with sweat. The second man dressed in all black and looked perfectly at ease surrounded by armed men. His face was a mass of wrinkles and he wore a mustache that hung down past his chin.

  “You don’t think they’re going to try and negotiate again, do you?” Wolfric asked.

  Otto shrugged. He had no idea what the purpose of this meeting was and didn’t care to guess. An ethereal barrier surrounded him and Wolfric just in case they tried something desperate and stupid.

  Their guests stopped ten feet from Otto’s group. The captain bowed and said, “Thank you for allowing us aboard. Let me introduce Grandfather Edge, the leader of the Coiled Serpent assassins guild.”

  Beside him, Wolfric stiffened. “You sent Jade to kill me.”

  Edge nodded. “I deemed her the most likely to succeed. Jade has a way with men.”

  “Had,” Otto said before a shouting match broke out. “Whatever you have to say, say it.”

  “Here is my offer,” Edge said. “I will cancel the contract on the two of you and offer my promise that no one will take it up again. I will further guarantee the lives of your families and friends. In exchange you will leave the harbor and never return.”

  Wolfric’s scowl was so deep Otto feared his face might break. “What’s to keep us from killing you and the rest of your people? We’ll be just as safe then.”

  “No, you won’t,” Edge said. “You think all my assassins are here? Even if you killed all of us in the city, others would take up the contract. My guild has members all over the world. We won’t stop until both of you are dead or all of us are. You got lucky once. You might get lucky twice. But four times? Ten times? How long do you think you can hold out?”

  He had a point, but Otto hated giving in to threats. On the other hand, he had enough to worry about without looking over his shoulder every five seconds for assassins.

  “We’ll consider your offer,” Otto said.

  Wolfric took a step forward but Otto laid a restraining hand on his arm.

  Edge seemed satisfied with Otto’s answer. “If your ships have set sail by noon, we will consider that an agreement.”

  Without another word, the leader of the assassins guild turned on his heel and climbed back down to the sloop. Otto was a fairly confident person, but he doubted he had the confidence to turn his back on so many enemies without a moment’s hesitation. The old man clearly
didn’t fear death. Perhaps dealing it out for a living made you immune.

  When the messengers had gone Wolfric said, “Are you really considering accepting his offer? We have the city on the ropes. One more day and we’ll have everything we want.”

  Otto shook his head. “No, we won’t. You heard what Edge said and I believe him. Dealing with the assassins here, while satisfying, doesn’t solve the problem. We take his deal and we remove one of Valtan’s most lethal weapons from play. Make no mistake, my friend. The assassins are only a tool. Without them, it will take our real enemy considerable time to find a replacement.”

  “I don’t like letting them get away with threatening us.”

  “I’m not thrilled about it either, but we need to consider the big picture. Destroying the City of Coins gains us little and costs our merchants a lucrative market. It’s time to cut our losses and go home.”

  Wolfric slumped a fraction. “Fine. Give the order. I’ll be in my cabin.”

  “Did we win?” Corina asked as they walked toward the helm to talk with the captain.

  “More or less. With the assassins out of the picture, we can focus on the journey to the Celestial Empire. Spring will be here before you know it and much work remains to be done.”

  Chapter 28

  The battle with the undead left Eddred exhausted and he slept until well past sunrise. When he finally woke, he groaned and sat up. His body ached from shoulders to calves. He had been far too lax in his training. That would have to be remedied.

  “Good morning, King Eddred.”

  He nearly fell out of bed when the soft, feminine voice spoke. In the shadowy corner of the room, the lovely figure of Naja sat in the only chair. She rose and bowed to him. She wore the same billowing black dress and veil which left only her eyes visible.

  “Is that one of your assassination techniques?” he asked. “Scaring someone to death?”

  “I’ve used it before. But frightening you wasn’t my intention. I am here with bad news.”

  Of course she was. How come no one ever brought him good news? “Let’s have it.”