Stonecutter's Shadow: A young mage's fight through a fantasy kingdom full of treachery

by James Haddock

  Karl considered, “Agreed. If we are attacked at any time from here on, everyone fights. Once in garrison, wounded are released until they pass fit for duty.”

  Rollings nodded, “agreed, but if we fight, I command my troops, you will follow orders.”

  “Agreed,” Karl answered, and they shook on the deal. Before long Karl and Cookie departed and I waited in Shadow to see what was said.

  “That was fortunate,” said the captain.

  “It was,” the lieutenant replied. “Our coffers are lean after this last season.”

  “That's the way it always is, feast or famine in this business. This will get us through the winter and see everyone healed.”

  “Which royal line do you think he belongs to?”

  “As long as he pays, I'm not asking,” the captain said.

  I walked through the camp listening at first one fire, then another.

  “There ain't but three of them. One's a royal's throw away, an old cook, and stonecutter who's probably never held a sword,” one soldier was saying.

  “Then what, we take a little gold and run? another asked.

  “They're rich, which means we'll be rich. Then we can get away from that strait-laced captain and his hardnosed sergeants.”

  “And go where? Winters coming.”

  “Are you deaf? We'll be rich, we can go anywhere we want. I'm thinking we should go to the capital, maybe start our own company,” The leader said. “Look, we'll rest up this winter, then hire men to fill out our company's roster. We'll hire out and make a killing.”

  “When do we take 'em?”

  “After midnight watch, we'll sneak over to their camp, take care of business, and be on our way.”

  This bunch apparently weren't the smartest ones in the company. I went back to our camp and reported what they planned. “Do you want me to take care of them before they get here?”

  “That might be the easiest thing, but you'll have to hide the bodies, or there will be a lot of questions.” Karl said.

  “I'll leave the bodies in a Shadow; they'll never be found.”

  “All right, once they get here, take care of them.” I nodded.

  * * *

  I decided to use my blowgun, I needed to see how effective the poison darts were. I got everything ready and sat down in Shadow to wait. Just after midnight when the watch changed, they came creeping up. I walked up behind the last one in line with poison dart loaded, I put the blow gun to my lips and blew. The dart struck him in the neck.

  He jumped slapping his neck but make no sound. In less than five seconds he was on the ground, and in less than ten seconds he was dead. I touched his body bringing him into the Shadow and kept moving to the next man in line.

  I shot the next one in the leg, getting the same results. As I killed each man, I took him into the Shadow. Task complete, I searched each man taking what money I found. I left all their personal items, figuring they might be recognized by someone in the company.

  Both Karl, and Cookie were at the fire when I walked up. “All is well?” Karl asked.

  “All is well,” I answered handing Cookie the spoils for our money chest. He took it nodding.

  “Take one of the bags of gold out of Shadow, we'll make our first payment to Captain Rollings in the morning.” I nodded, and walked to the wagon, Karl followed. I reached into the wagon and pulled a bag of gold out of the Shadow.

  Karl was smiling, “I know it's there, but still find it hard to believe that anyone can do that.” He walked away shaking his head.

  We moved our wagon over to join the company's camp after breakfast. We met with Captain Rollings, “this is Drone, our scout,” Karl said introducing me. “He is also our stonecutter.”

  “Well met, Drone,” Rollings greeted me.

  “Captain,” I said nodding.

  “You seem young for a scout, Drone.” He said.

  “I am, but I was trained by Jimmy Crease,” I said.

  The captain nodded, I know Jimmy, a fine scout, how is he?”

  “He was killed in a cavalry charge, but we took a lot of them down before they got him.” I let his imagination fill in the story.

  “Sorry to hear that,” he said. I nodded. They went on discussing what supplies needed to be bought and decided to let the company rest there a few days before continuing to Split Rock.

  I spent my time wandering the town's market, and shops. I bought a sticky sweet roll and ate it as I walked. As I finished it, I thought, “I should have bought two,” I smiled. I paused at a fountain and washed the sticky from my hands.

  There was an odd shop across the street that caught my attention. As I approached it my amulet tingled slightly. The whole shop had a woodsy smell to it, with herbs, and spices hanging everywhere.

  “Good morning, my young friend, please come in,” the merchant said coming toward me.

  “Good morning,” I answered, letting my eyes scan the shop. The Shadows said we were alone.

  “How can I help you? A poultice perhaps?”

  “No, I don't really need anything, this is just an unusual shop and I wanted to come see it.” Then I realized why my amulet had tingled, there was a drawing spell at the shop’s entrance, I smiled. I felt through the Shadows to see if there were any artifacts here, and there were. “Since this is such an unusual shop, I thought you might have some special merchandise for sale, some mage items perhaps.”

  “If I did, they would be expensive, lad.”

  “Of course, they would, if they were quality pieces,” I said, holding up a gold coin.

  “Just a moment,” he said. He closed and locked the front door. “Right over here is what I have.” He walked behind a counter and pulled out a cloth covered wooden tray. I could tell there were more items to be seen. I moved my hand above them, they we all cheap rings with weak magic.

  “I said quality pieces, not the junk you sell to the rubes.”

  He smiled, “so you did.” He put the tray away and brough out a small felt lined display box. I could tell these were the real thing. There were some rings, a few bracelets, and a necklace.

  I nodded, “What do we have?”

  He pointed to each item as he described it. “Of the rings, we have one for healing of oneself, truth discernment, seeing in the dark, hammer hand; for fighting, persuasion, poison discernment and nullification, levitation of yourself or objects, and disguise. The bracelets are, deflection; from both physical and magic attacks, magic masking; which hides any artifact you wear, like rings, including itself, from view. No one can see them. This last ring is for amplification. The necklace is for spell nullification.

  I waved my hand over the jewelry. The strongest were healing, hammer hand, poison discernment and nullification, levitation, and the necklace. “May I?” He nodded, and I moved those pieces to one side. Then examined each individually, as I did my amulet tingled. “How much for these five?”

  “5,000 in gold,” he said.

  I chuckled, “I don't mind you making a nice profit, but don't try to retire off this one sale. 100 per piece.”

  “That would be the price of those other fine rings. These are of the highest quality. 4,500.”

  The bargaining went on for some time, the lies of destitution growing by the moment. We finally arrived at 2,200, which I paid in gems.

  “Do stop back by when you come through, I get new items from time to time.”

  “I will,” I said putting my jewelry on. I put the hammer hand, levitation and guise ring on my right hand, the poison discernment and health rings on my left hand. The necklace of course went around my neck. As I left the shop, I entered the first alley that was in shade, and stepped into Shadow. I didn't expect anyone to follow me, but I watched, being cautious. I put all the jewelry in shadow like the amulet, so no one could see any of it.

  I felt the amulet tingle, as well as each piece of jewelry. They pulsed as one like they were working together, then they quieted. I stepped out of Shadow and out of the alley. I continued
my way looking in other shops.

  I made the loop around the market district heading back toward camp. As I passed a large wagon with a man sitting under the few trees, my amulet tingled. I was learning that this usually meant there was magic, of some description, near me.

  The man looked up at me, “do you need a healer, brother?”

  “No, I'm fine, are you a traveling healer?”

  “I am, I usually work with a mercenary company, but the season is closing out for this year. I may take another contract next year.”

  “Where will you winter?”

  “I'm not sure, here maybe, though to be honest the local physicians would rather I moved on.”

  “You are a mage healer,” I said, he nodded. “Would you be interested in taking a contract for the winter?”

  “Possibly, but with who and where?”

  “We are taking a company south for the winter, and we have a lot of wounded that could use your help recovering. It would be an easy winter for you if you came with us.”

  “What company?”

  “Rollings.”

  He nodded, “decent company, though I heard they had a rough year.”

  I nodded, “If you are interested come to the caravan lot and ask for Karl Bewachen, he's the one hiring.”

  “When do you leave?”

  “Day after tomorrow, I think.”

  “I shall consider it,” he said.

  I nodded, “safe travels,” and was on my way. As I neared our camp, I stopped my guise ring.

  Anything interesting happening in town?” Karl asked.

  “I met a mage healer. He usually works with mercenary companies. He may be looking for a place to winter. I told him if he was interested to come see you.”

  “You think he'll come?”

  I shrugged, “maybe, maybe not.”

  “Did he have a big wagon?” he asked looking past me.

  I turned looking, “That would be him,” I said, smiling.

  As soon as his wagon stopped a crowd formed, and it seemed that everyone knew him as “Doc”. He stepped down, and we all moved to Captain Rollings' fire. “Master Karl, I hope you didn't hire this wandering poultice maker,” he said, smiling.

  Doc stood tall, “I, sir, will have you know that I only use the finest herbs and powders in my poultices... when I can find them,” he said winking. Everyone laughed.

  “Join our fire, Doc.” Someone handed him a hot cup of tea, and he sat down.

  “How are you healing, captain?” Doc asked.

  “I'm coming along,” he answered.

  “Is Mitch still with you?” Doc asked, looking around.

  Faces turned somber, “No, we lost him on the voyage back. He took a spear to the leg, and it got infected. But he's the reason our wounded made it this far… best medico we ever had. He'll be missed.” Everyone nodded.

  “You looking for a place for the winter, Doc?”

  “I was looking for a rich merchant with gout, but I may have to settle for you lot.” A cheer went up. That told me Doc was good, if the troops liked him that much, he was really good, and they trusted him. Doc signed on with us, and we agreed to resupply his wagon before leaving.

  While Doc resupplied, I made one last trip to the bakery that made the sticky sweet rolls. I ate as I walked through the market. I began to get a feeling that something was off, I felt the Shadows, but there were so many people here I couldn't tell anything. I turned down an alley and stepped into Shadow, finishing my roll, I waited.

  A man rounded the corner carefully, with another man right behind him. They continued down the alley, I Shadow Flowed with them. When they couldn't find me, one said, “the master will be mad if we don't find him, he wants those rings back.” I followed them around for a while, until they gave up and went back to the merchant's shop.

  Chapter 10

  I followed them to the merchant’s district, where they went down back alleys that ran behind the merchant shops. They stopped at a nondescript door and knocked; the Shadows told me there was someone approaching from inside. A panel in the door slid open, the merchant peered out, seeing his two henchmen, he opened the door.

  I jumped shadows and went inside with them, “Well?” The merchant asked.

  “We lost him,” The smaller of the two said.

  “Then why aren't you still out there looking for him?”

  “We searched the whole market, we thought you'd want to know.”

  “What I want is my jewelry back, now get back out there and find him, don't come back until you do.” They nodded, and left the same way we came in.

  I followed the merchant through the storage room to the store front. He walked toward the front door to unlock it and reopen his shop. I stepped out of shadow, “Why don't you leave that locked, while we talk.”

  He spun and threw so fast, I didn't have time to think, only react. A glowing dagger was coming at me, my left arm shot up to cover my face. light exploded off my bracer shield, and I dove behind the counter. Another glowing dagger stuck in the wall where I had been standing. It sizzled scorching the wood then disappeared.

  “This’s why no one trusts merchants,” I called out, rolling into a Shadow.

  “Is that you my young friend? I'm sorry about that, you startled me, and I just reacted. Come out, let's talk.”

  I changed Shadows and moved around the room so I could see him. He had taken cover behind a beam and was waiting for me to answer. He had thrown magic daggers at me, I wondered what other surprises he had. He was obviously too dangerous to take any chances with. I loaded a poison dart into my blowgun and shot him in the back of his neck.

  As soon as the dart hit, he spun with a magic sword, slicing everything that was behind him in two. The mage sword was still in his right hand, crackling with power. his left hand pulled the dart from his neck. looking at it, “Oh, no…” he said, dropping to his knees. The mage sword disappeared as he fell face forward not moving. I waited, I didn't want to assume he was dead, just to have him kill me.

  Once I was sure he was dead, I stepped from the Shadow and searched him. Now his magic masking artifact no longer worked. He wore rings on every finger, bracelets on both wrists and bracers. I took the jewelry and bracers off him and set them to the side. He had a purse and a set of keys on his belt, I took both. There were only a few coins in the purse, enough for food, drink, and small expenses.

  I examined the bracers. They were shields, much like the one I was wearing. I learned an important lesson, just like a normal shield, they only protected you the direction you were facing. An enemy could still hurt you from behind. I took my one bracer off and put it in my backpack. I buckled both my new bracers on, my amulet tingled letting me know they were working together.

  I slipped the guise ring on placing it in Shadow and put the rest of the jewelry in my purse. I knelt by the merchant's body, laying my guise ring hand on him I felt the amulet tingle. I concentrated, and took on the merchant’s appearance, then put the body in Shadow.

  I searched the shop, taking every magic artifact, and all the gold I found. I did not find the few jewels I had seen before, so I assumed there was a vault in the shop somewhere. I searched his upstairs apartment, finding nothing of interest there. The storage room held a lot of supplies and equipment, he must have done business with mercenary companies, but most everyone in town did.

  I stepped back into Shadow, and concentrated. I felt through every Shadow in the shop, and finally found it. It was under the counter; it wasn't as much as I had expected. It held a strong box, with some gold, on the plus side there were a lot of gems. I guess he preferred light weight, portable riches, which I was beginning to appreciate.

  I heard a knock on the back door, the Shadows told me it was his two henchmen returning. These were the only two witnesses that knew I had been here. I went to the back door; this would be a good test for the guise ring. Opening the door, “Well?” I asked.

  “Nothing, we have searched everywhere, there is no
sign of him,” the short one, apparently the brains of the two, said.

  “Fine, something else has come up.” I handed him three golds. “Go buy a large, covered merchant's wagon, a good one. And a good horse team, and do not come back with a piece of junk thinking to pocket my coin. Buy it and get back here.” I closed the door and they left. I saw no reason to leave all this plunder here for someone else, and I’d have someone else to load it for me.

  I walked through the front shop moving things I walked back to the storage room. When the two returned with the wagon, I looked it and the team over, it was a good wagon, and teams. I nodded, “Open the loading doors, and let's get started.” They opened the doors and loaded the supplies into my new wagon. When they were finished, I gave them a few silvers each. “Take a few days off, then come back around,” I told them.

  They took their money and left quickly, perhaps fearing their boss might change his mind. I loaded the strong box into the wagon, placing it into Shadow. Staying in character of my guise, I locked the doors, and mounted the wagon. It was now dusk, as I passed the last building leaving town, I dropped the merchant's guise.

  I pulled up to our other wagon, Karl and Cookie met me, “You get tired of sleeping on the ground?” Karl asked.

  I looked around, no one was paying any attention to us, “I ran into another greedy man, it didn't work out as he planned it.”

  Karl looked back toward town, “will we be having visitors?”

  “Maybe, but not because of this.” I answered. He nodded, and we looked in the back.

  “Nice,” Cookie said, “all good stuff too.”

  “I figured we could always use the supplies.” I took care of the team and joined them back at our fire. I handed Karl the mate to his shield brace. He took it frowning. “We both have a set now.” I said, helping him buckle it on. “I lay no claim to those supplies — use them as necessary, for us or the company. I would, however, like someone assigned to drive the wagon so I continue to scout when we move on.”

  Karl nodded, “yes, I want you out scouting as well. So, how did you meet this greedy man?”