I knelt beside the prince, pulled the bolt from his shoulder, and stopped the bleeding. There was no longer a bolt in his neck, just an open wound. I placed my hand over the wound and stopped the bleeding.
Cookie had a nasty cut on his head, arm, and a stab wound in his leg. I stopped his bleeding while he worked on the prince. “I need the medico bag from my wagon,” he said, starting to rise.
I pushed him back down, “I'll get it,” I said. I stayed in Shadow and retrieved the bag. “Do what you can, I'll check the others.” He nodded bandaging the prince. looking around I saw no more fighting. I stayed in Shadow and walked the battleground. I accounted for all our men, no one else had survived. I went back to Cookie and the prince.
Cookie was now working bandaging his own wounds. He looked up at me as I approached. “Any others?”
I shook my head, “no one.”
He nodded, “sit down, let me look at your face.” I had forgotten about it until he mentioned it, now I felt the pain.
“Karl?” I asked as he worked on my face.
“We've done what we can, if you hadn't stopped the bleeding...” He left the rest unsaid. “Are we safe in this... Shadow cave?”
“Yes, no one can see or hear us, we're safe. Others will be coming soon to see what has happened. Just ignore them. When it's dark I'll go see what happened to Captain Rosa, and Corporal Lotts.”
He nodded, “they're dead, or in irons, lad.”
“If they are dead, I'll kill who ever killed them. If they are in irons, I’ll free them and bring them back,” I said. “What do you need from the wagons? Never mind, let’s move Karl over to the wagon, I'll bring it in Shadow too.”
We moved the prince over to the cook wagon, touching it I pulled it into the Shadow with us. I went out and got the horse team, my horse, the prince’s horse, and brought them all in Shadow.
“Neat trick,” Cookie said.
“It comes in handy. Wait here, I'm going to look around.” He nodded. It was not yet fully dark but people from the town were starting this way to search the dead and take spoils. I concentrated and sent some Shadow Dead to keep them away. After the first few Shadow People rose, no one else approached the site.
I had no trouble seeing as I searched the dead for information and anything of value. I took coins, jewels, letters, everything. I'd give Cookie the valuables and let him divide it out. All their dead were common soldiers, I found no officers or sergeants. I returned to Cookie; Karl was still unconscious. I handed Cookie the valuables, he took them and put them in a box in his wagon.
I felt them coming, “more cavalry coming,” I said. “Don't worry they can't see or hear us, but we can see and hear them,” Cookie nodded staying close to Karl.
These men had torches and rode in and around the battle ground. “Search every one of them, the prince is supposed to be here. We’ll take him back with us, dead or alive.” They dismounted and checked each body. They finally decided that the prince was not among the dead.
“Search the field, search the wood, search everywhere!” The leader shouted. “You,” he said pointing at a soldier. “Go tell the lieutenant that we did not find the prince, and to search the town.”
“Yes, sir.” he answered.
“I'll be back,” I said to Cookie and jumped into the rider's Shadow. It was like floating along beside the horse, and rider. He rode through town stopping at an inn. I jumped Shadows and followed the messenger inside. He walked up to a table of what appeared to be officers.
“Lieutenant, the captain says the prince was not among the dead he is searching the countryside and wants you and your men to search the town.”
A well-dressed man at the far end of the table slammed his hand down, “Not among the dead?”
“No, m'lord.”
“Duke Bodes, I presume.” I said to myself.
“Find him,” he screamed, “search everywhere!”
All the soldiers ran to start their search. The duke walked to the back of the room. That's when I saw Captain Rosa and Corporal Lotts, beaten to death.
The duke, in frustration, kicked the captain. I broke a chair over his head, knocking him out cold. I pulled him into Shadow and searched him, taking his weapons, and valuables. I pulled a chair into Shadow and tied him to it.
I found a bucket of water and threw it in the duke’s face. He woke up sputtering, tried to stand, but could not. Seeing me, “Untie me and I won't hang you.”
I turned his chair around, so he could see the captain, and corporal. “Why did you kill them?”
“Who do you think you are to question me? Release me at once!”
I was holding a knife I had taken from him, “nice knife,” I said. I sliced his face from eye to jaw, and he screamed. “Sharp, too. Why did you kill them?”
He spit at me. “Good, because I'm enjoying this.” I cut the other side of his face to match. “Why did you kill them?”
He said nothing gritting his teeth. I went to the kitchen and came back with a bag of salt. I poured some in my hand letting him see it.
“Why did you kill them?”
He kept his silence. I nodded and rubbed the salt into his face wounds. He screamed and turned the chair over trying to get away from the pain. I let him flounce around like a fish out of water for a bit.
“I can pay you,” he said.
“You can keep your gold, just answer the question. Why did you kill them?”
“They were traitors to the new king, harboring a fugitive.”
“Do you mean the usurper that poisoned everyone in the castle? That ‘king?” He said nothing.
“My men will be back soon, I'm going to enjoy killing you,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Look around,” I said. “A friend of mine dubbed this a Shadow Cave, a good description. We can see and hear the world outside, but they can't see or hear what’s going on in here. So, I wouldn't plan on any of them helping you.” I pulled a chair in and sat down.
He looked around, then back at me, “you’re a mage, you’re under a death sentence.”
“Yes, I'm a mage, and sooner or later death will find me. “Oh, look! here comes someone now, could this be the one to save you?”
A soldier walked by, and the duke began to shout. “Soldier! Hey soldier, here!” The soldier kept walking into the kitchen and came out with a hunk of meat and bread. “Soldier! Soldier! I'm here, in here. Help me!” the soldier left.
The duke’s shoulders slumped, he looked back at me.
I smiled at him, “shall we continue?”
* * *
The duke finally told me every secret he knew, and where every valuable he had was. “I'm going to go check, and if you have lied to me, I'm coming back, and we’ll start again.” I stepped out of this Shadow, and into another one.
I buried Captain Rosa, and Corporal Lotts in the town cemetery. Laying my hand on the ground and watching it open for me. I lay them to rest then closed the ground over them.
Duke Bodes was supporting the new king with gold, but that would end tonight. His estate would have little of value come morning. Not that Lermont would care… he was the type to ride a good horse to death, then get another one.
I stayed in Shadow and went to the Bodes estate, just up the road from town. The estate house was a walled keep, the gates were closed and barred, guards on full alert. I went up and over the wall in Shadow, then into the main hall. I found the vault downstairs and went in under the door. I took all the gems since they were easiest to carry. I put everything else in shadow, so the vault appeared empty.
I went to the other hiding places the duke told me about and emptied them. I went back to the inn, to see the duke one last time. “You are in luck, you told me the truth. Tell me, there was a stonecutter working on your estate, what happened to him?”
“When he finished his work, we executed him. As a mage he was under a death sentence from the king.”
I stared at him for a moment then stepped out of Shadow. I went t
o the pig pen, tied a rope around a large hog's neck, he followed me like a dog. I stepped back into Shadow and went back into the inn. When the duke saw the pig, his eyes went wide.
I took the rope off the pig and turned him loose. I kicked the duke's chair over, “you're a greedy human. This is a greedy pig. Good luck.” I walked away, his shouts for mercy dying as I left the Shadow.
I made my way back to Cookie. Soldiers were searching the town, the surrounding woods, and countryside. I stepped into the Shadow, Cookie had Karl close to the fire and was sitting with him. Cookie looked up at me, “any change?” I asked.
He shook his head, “he's still with us. “Did you find them?”
I nodded, “both dead. The duke sided with the new king and captured them. They wouldn't talk, so he had them beat to death.”
“Where's the duke now?” He asked touching his knife.
“I fed him to a pig... while he was still alive. He nodded, ladled me a bowl of stew, and handed it to me.
“How's your wounds? I asked.
“Oh, I'll be fine, just sore for a week or so.”
“Good, because my cooking is terrible, and I'd hate to have to find a new cook.”
He gave me a half grin, “it's nice to be appreciated.” I smiled around a mouth full of stew.
* * *
Karl was in and out of consciousness, from fever. We didn't know if he would live or not. Cookie kept him sipping broth and sponging him with cool water. I kept us in supplies, stealing them from a merchant in town. They finally came and stripped the battlefield and buried the dead.
I had started to bury our dead, but that would have told them we were still alive. I had already claimed everything we wanted, of the weapons and supplies. Now it was just a waiting game. It was better for Karl not to be moved, and as we were safe here, we stayed put.
Karl’s fever finally broke and he began to come to himself. “Water,” he said. Cookie gave him some. He took a few swallows, waited then took a few more. He looked at us. “No others?”
I shook my head, “No, but we are safe. You rest and get better. Cookie's not much of a conversationalist.”
“That's because Drone only understands three- and four-letter words,” Cookie responded.
Karl snorted, then fell back to sleep.
“He smiled,” Cookie said, “that's a good sign.”
I nodded, “I think you've pulled him through, Cookie.”
I left our Shadow for another and went into the woods. While I was looking about, I killed two rabbits for dinner. All was quiet in the woods and around us as I retired to our Shadow.
Cookie did his magic on the rabbits, and the aroma filled the air. Karl was feeling well enough that he sat up and ate with us. “How long have we been here?” he asked looking around.
“A week,” Cookie answered. “Drone has kept us safe here in his Shadow Cave. If it hadn't been for him, we'd both be dead.”
“One of your secrets?” Karl asked. I shrugged. “Thank you, thank you both, I owe you my life.” He ate more rabbit and drank plenty of water. He seemed more thirsty than hungry. “The captain?” he finally asked.
“He and Corporal Lotts were captured by Duke Bodes, who had declared for Lermont. Bodes beat them for information, which they never gave. I caught Bodes when I went to find them, and we had a long painful discussion. Well, painful for him anyway. He told me all of his secrets, one of which was, he was supporting Lermont with gold.”
I took out a bag of gems and handed it to Karl. “I went to his estate and took every bit of gold, and treasure he had. His estate is ruined.”
“Where is he now?”
“A hog ate him,” I said.
“So, you killed him.”
“No, I just cut him up a bit. The hog killed him.” He stared at me a moment, nodding.
“He'll make better bacon than he did a duke,” Karl said.
* * *
We stayed a few more days, allowing Karl to recover his strength. I went to the merchant in the town for more supplies. As soon as I entered the town, I knew I was not alone. I looked around but could not see anyone. I concentrated, and finally pinpointed him.
There was an assassin up in the rafters, watching and waiting. Someone must have realized food was being stolen and hoped to catch a prince. I went up the wall Shadow behind him and watched him for a while. I was impressed he sat motionless the whole time, if I had not had Shadow Meld, I'd be a dead man.
This was too dangerous an enemy to take any chances with, I thrust my knife up through the back of his head, killing him instantly. I pulled him back into Shadow and he slid down the wall to the floor. I noticed a black bag, or pack tied to the rafter he was sitting on, I took it down with me. I searched the assassin, he had multiple knives, a hollow tube like a flute, but without holes. I just put everything in his pack, thinking I'd look at it later.
I stripped him out of his clothes, setting them to the side. I stopped, and looked around, the Shadows told me there was no one else in the building.
“Who would hire, or send an assassin?” I wondered. “Lermont would send one, but would anyone here send for one? Assassins weren't cheap to hire, and this was not a rich merchant's house. If it were Lermont, would he send only one assassin, or would he send more than one, to ensure the job was done?”
I flowed from Shadow to Shadow, building to building. I found another assassin in the attic of the brothel, and another in the stable's hay loft. There were four horses set aside, that made me think they belonged to the assassins. Four horses, but I'd only found and killed three assassins. All were dressed the same and carried like equipment. If it were me, I'd be watching the field, and woods where the battle took place.
I left the horses where they were, thinking I needed to find the fourth man. I moved to the edge of town feeling nothing unusual in the Shadows. I moved to the wood's Shadows, stretching my senses out trying to locate him. I felt nothing but the creatures of the wild.
I sat down, and concentrated, opening my mind, and senses. I felt my amulet tingling, as I reached farther afield. Nothing. Maybe he's at the duke's estate, but something didn't feel right here in these woods.
I concentrated on the strangeness I felt, narrowing it down until I found it. Carefully, I moved closer to the strangeness, I didn't want to find another dragon. I found the last assassin sitting in a tree watching. He was a mage or wore a magic artifact. Why would a mage be an assassin? He must be wearing an artifact.
I needed to be especially careful with this one, if he was a mage, who knew what his talent might be? I put an arrow through his head, and he dropped to the ground like a bag of rocks. I notched a second arrow and watched closely as it his body blended perfectly with the ground cover.
Chapter 8
He was dead, I put my arrow away and slung my bow over my back. Searching him, I found he was wearing two mage rings. One apparently allowed him to blend into any background color, shade, and texture. The other was a guise ring which allowed him to look like objects or disguise his appearance.
He must have been the leader of the group, as well as a mage. His equipment was better, and he had a mage book in his backpack. His backpack became my backpack. I stripped him down and took everything with me and left his body in Shadow. I didn't want anyone finding these guys, so I'd let their disappearance be a mystery.
I went back to the stables, gathered their horses, and we stepped into Shadow. I walked them out of town, they stayed together, and right with me. I entered our camp’s Shadow with my new horses. Karl looked over at me and the horses, “they hang horse thieves, you know.”
I smiled, “spoils of war.” I put them with the other horses and unsaddled them. I moved all the saddle packs, backpacks, clothes, and equipment over by the fire. “You, my friend, are a popular man. Someone, probably Lermont send a team of four assassins here to find you.”
“They sent a quartet?” Cookie whistled. “You are popular!”
I dumped the backpack out a
nd started looking through it. “Some of these things I don't really recognize.” I picked up the 'not flute', “like this thing.”
“Blow gun,” Cookie said, “there should be some darts in there somewhere. Be careful though, some will be poisoned.” Karl, and I stared at him. “What? I wasn't always a cook.”
We separated everything out and found that there were indeed poison darts in the kit. Their knives were better than ours, so we traded up. We continued to look through their gear, setting the things we wanted aside, tossing the rest.
“Someone feels strongly enough that I'm here to pay for a quartet, which costs a fortune. When they don't return, he'll panic. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't lift the death sentence on mages, and hire some to help him,” Karl said.
“Maybe I should just go kill him and be done with it.” I said.
“Wouldn't work,” Karl said. “You'd be caught as soon as you got close to him. Everyone thinks Lermont is not a mage, but he is. His talent is nullification — that is, magic doesn't work around him. Which is one of the reasons mages, especially Royals, didn't like being around him.”
My eyebrows went up, “I'm glad I didn't try to get to him when I was in the castle, that would have ended badly. Oh, here, you can use these more than I can,” I handed Karl the rings I’d gotten from the assassin mage. “Their leader was wearing these. They made it extremely hard to find him. One ring camouflages the wearer perfectly with the color and texture around you. The other is a guise ring, so you can look like any object, or change your appearance, looking like someone else.” He put them on, trying them. The camo ring turned him shadow black, and the guise ring made him look like an old man.
“Those will make things easier.” I said.
He nodded, “thank you, but are you sure you don't want to keep them?”
“Nope, I can just step into a Shadow. You cannot.”
Stonecutter's Shadow: A young mage's fight through a fantasy kingdom full of treachery Page 7
