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

by James Haddock

  I felt my Shadow getting smaller, then Lermont had passed me. He and his entourage kept going down the hall, never slowing. I sat down, all the adrenaline in me made me feel like I was going to throw up. I took out my water bag and drank, then splashed some water on my face.

  Once I had calmed down, I thought over what had just happened. I had come within three feet of Lermont, and though I felt the effect, his magic did not nullify mine. His nullification magic apparently had a very short range. So, as long as I stayed at least three feet from him, I'd be OK. Which meant I could easily get close enough to kill him any time I wanted. I smiled, and not a kind one.

  I decided to continue on to the kitchen, as I needed something in my stomach. I grabbed a chunk of bread and some meat as I looked at the offerings.

  “Take this up to Princess Rayne's room, and be quick about it,” the cook told a serving girl.

  “Yes mistress,” the serving girl replied, taking the tray. Curiosity got the better of me, and I followed the serving girl. We meandered through servant’s passageway to the upper levels of the palace. The upper palace was where the royal apartments were. The serving girl finally stopped at a closed door and knocked. “Lunch, Princess Rayne,” she said, through the door.

  “Come in,” came an answer. The serving girl opened the door and went inside, I followed her through. “Just set it on the table, Bee.” A young woman said, never turning from the bookshelves.

  “Yes, M'lady,” Bee answered setting the tray down. She closed the door behind her as she left. Princess Rayne glanced over her shoulder at the tray then turned back to the bookshelf.

  The room did have a lot of books, but I wouldn't call it a library. I looked back the princess, and saw that she was indeed plain. She wore no jewelry and no hair combs, but she was well groomed. He clothes were nice, and fit well, but were not showy like the peacocks in court. She was plain, but nice looking.

  She turned and looked around the room frowning, concentrating. She nodded to herself, then went to the table and sat down to her meal. I walked along the bookshelves reading the titles to the books. She had more than just magic books. There were books on geography, alchemy, and astrology.

  “So, are you here to kill me, or are you just interested in my books?” The princes asked. My eyebrows rose. I turned to look at her, she continued to eat. “If you’re not here to kill me, pour us some wine, I rarely get interesting visitors.”

  I chuckled, shaking my head. I stepped out of Shadow, got two glasses, and the decanter of wine. “Well, I don't know how interesting I am, but I'm at least a visitor.” I put a glass at her hand and filled it. She nodded her thanks and took a sip. I poured my own wine. As she was being informal, I reacted in kind, and took a seat.

  She studied me for a moment, “That is a most impressive invisibility spell. If we had not been alone in the room, I doubt I would have noticed you.”

  I nodded, “I'll keep that in mind.”

  “So, not here to kill me then?” She said.

  “Without an introduction? That would just be rude.” She smiled. “Besides were I looking to kill anyone there are others in the palace who need killing far more than you.”

  “Oh?” For instance?”

  I took a swallow of my wine, “for instance Lord Lermont.”

  She harrumphed, “That maniacal, arrogant, megalomaniac.”

  I smiled, “well, no one's perfect, but don't sell him short, given time he'll get worse.”

  “I'm sure. Father and he are in negotiation as we speak. Although I haven't been able to find out all the details, I'm sure I'll like none of it.”

  “Oh, that part’s easy,” I said.

  “Do share,” she replied, holding out her glass to be refilled.

  I refilled it, “Lermont wants your father to give him an army, so he can return to Farshores to try and retake that kingdom. The price for the army is for him to marry you. Theoretically that would make you queen.”

  “You have got to be kidding.”

  “No, I'm pretty sure that would make you queen.” she gave me ‘the look’. “Though I wouldn't wish marrying him on my worst enemy.”

  “Then he is a fool, if father did give him the army, and if he was able to take Farshores, he would become father's puppet.”

  I shrugged, “that seems to be the consensus. I'm sure Lermont thinks he can outfox your father. Farshores is a far away from here.”

  “Not far enough for that to happen. I'd be a widow before that happened. Did the present king of Farshores send you to kill Lermont or at least stop the alliance?”

  I shook my head, “no, I came of my own accord. Though I would gladly do either or both of those. I don't really like Lermont,” I said taking a swallow of my wine.

  She nodded, “please feel free to spike the alliance if nothing else. I am so tired of being treated like a prize cow. Well, that not exactly true, I’m the third-place prize cow. I have two sisters who are more desirable than I.”

  “I doubt that.”

  “Oh? Have you seen my sisters?”

  “No, but,” I waved my hand around, “This is all for show. You dress down, and keep yourself plain, because you don't suffer fools. You keep to your books and studies, because you see people for what the truly are, and what they genuinely want. You hate to be around two-faced people but are kind to your staff and know each one by name. That’s my guess, anyway,” I said smiling.

  “You are very observant, Master...?”

  “Mason, just Mason.”

  “Mason,” She repeated nodding. “Will you be staying with us long, Mason?”

  “For a while yet,” I said, standing.

  “Then please do come again,” she said.

  “Thank you, M'lady, I will. Good afternoon,” I answered, and stepped into Shadow. Since she could sense me, I didn't hang around to see what she would do. I went out on the balcony and Shadow Flowed down. I knew she had followed me out onto the balcony.

  “You're going to have to teach me that spell,” she said to herself, but the Shadows heard it. I smiled.

  * * *

  I spent the week getting to know the city and watching Lermont's merc's and Rockspire's soldiers drinking together. That seemed only natural if they were to be fighting together. Nothing else seemed to be happening and everyone and everything was on hold until the deal for the army was made.

  I took a seat at an outside table at what they called a café. They served tea, coffee, and pastries. It was a nice place that looked out over the river, and I much enjoyed it. As I sat there drinking my tea, I let my mind mull over all that I knew about Lermont's plan.

  It just didn't make sense to me, Lermont would have to have a supply train five times as big as his army to support them until they got to Farshores. Farshores had been easy to supply because of its harbor. Perhaps he planned on using the river to move the army to somewhere that had better supply route?

  “More tea, sir?” the server asked.

  “Yes, please.” he poured my cup fill. “Tell me, do the barges take cargo down river?” I asked.

  “No, sir,” he answered, shaking his head. Rockspire is the last river port before the rapids.” He looked at the river, “though there was talk at one time to have a stone mage remove the rapids — but nothing ever came of it.”

  I nodded, “Thank you,” he nodded and went about his serving. “So, not moving the army using the river.” I thought. I sipped my hot tea, musing. What was I missing? Lermont wasn't a tactical genius, he proved that by stealing from the cargo and ships that would have kept him supplied. I was missing some piece of the puzzle. Maybe I was approaching this wrong … how would I do it? The short answer was I wouldn't, not from this distance.

  Who was Lermont's military advisor? I had killed at least one of them the night they attacked the mage quarter. Based on his actions after that, he either didn’t have one, or he didn't listen to him. Lermont would be better of trying to take Rockspire rather than trying to retake Foreshores.
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br />   That thought stopped me. I rolled the idea around in my mind. How had Lermont taken Farshores? He came in as friendly with a small band of mercenaries. He probably bought off certain people, like the local army commander, the captain of the palace guard, and the king's spymaster. When everyone was in place, he poisoned everyone not under his control, and his mercenaries killed everyone who might oppose him.

  What if Lermont is using Rockspire's King Joseph's greed against him? Perhaps the king is so intent on expanding his lands to Farshores that he couldn’t see Lermont's true intentions. That explained why Lermont was in no hurry for the negotiations to end, since he needed time to put all his pieces in place.

  So, who was he going to subvert first, the spymaster or the military? If it were me, I might go after the spymaster or one of his top men first. I decided I needed to check on the spymaster and see what he had been up to.

  * * *

  I went to the palace and found the spymaster's office. There were three people there, reading through paperwork. I looked over their shoulder and read what I could, but saw nothing that gave me pause.

  “How old was he, anyway?” one aide asked.

  “Old...in his 50's at least,” another answered.

  “But he looked so fit!”

  “I had an uncle that went the same way. One day raring to go, next day his heart gave out, dead as a rock he was.”

  “And now that lucky sod Rodger is our new spy master, not that he hasn't spent his time in the muck.”

  “On the bright side, we all move up a slot,”

  “You be mindful, Rodger brooks no disloyalty. If he ever suspects it, he'll send your body down to the rapids.”

  “So, the 'old' spy master had a heart attack, what a coincidence,” I thought, and was about to leave when a nondescript man with quick eyes came into the office. The three stopped and bowed.

  “Good morning, Master Rodger,” the oldest clerk one said.

  “Well?” Rodger asked.

  “So far we have found nothing mentioning Lord Lermont or his activities beyond the first report to the king.”

  Rodger nodded, “when you finish, organize everything by subject, then by date. I'll look over them later.” He left the room before anyone could answer. I Shadow jumped into Rodger’s Shadow and left with him.

  Chapter 23

  I stayed in Rodger's shadow for two days before my patience paid off. He dressed as a mercenary and went to a tavern where soldiers drank. There he met with a mercenary captain that I recognized as one of Lermont's men.

  “All is well?” The captain asked.

  “Yes. I got the promotion I was promised,” Rodger answered.

  The captain nodded smiling, “and a raise in pay will come soon.” The captain raised his mug, “to new beginnings.” Rodger raised his mug and drank. “We'll be in contact,” the captain said then turned to leave. I Shadow Jumped and left with him.

  * * *

  King Joseph had given Lermont and his 200 mercenaries an estate outside the city in which to stay. The king was no fool, he posted a 300-man force between the estate and the city. The captain went straight into the main estate house, and into the main office. He took off his gloves and hat and tossed them on the desk.

  A lieutenant came into the office, “any messages?” the captain asked.

  “None, Sir.”

  The captain nodded, “I'll have a message ready shortly to be sent right away.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  The captain sat down and began writing his message.

  It read: SM in place. Had to replace puppet. Proceeding with alternate plan. May need to change third daughter option to a more aggressive action. May have to remove K and CP. Advise.

  He rolled the message and gave it to the lieutenant. “Send it.” the lieutenant took the message and left and the captain sat back thinking.

  “So, I'm guessing SM, is the Spymaster. K is probably the king, and CP is the Crown Prince? Is the puppet Lermont? And who is he sending the message to? If Lermont was the puppet, how did they replace him? I needed to find Lermont, if he is still alive,” I thought.

  I Shadow Jumped and began searching. If I had to replace someone, I would either kill them, or lock them away. I found some stairs that led down and found the door was locked, so I went under. At the first landing a hall went off to the left. I followed it to another locked door, which I went under.

  It was the vault, where their treasury was stored. It cost a lot to pay, house, and feed 200 mercenaries. I'd come back for that later, but I needed to find Lermont first. I went back under the door, and back down the hallway. I continued down the stairs, to another locked door. I went under and found the dungeon guard with his chair leaned back against the wall asleep.

  I continued to check the cells and found Lermont chained to the wall in the last one. I had to laugh, what poetic justice that was!

  I went back to the guard, using a sleeping dart I put him into a deeper slumber. He'd be out for hours. I touched the stone wall and told the stones to hold the door so no one could open it. I stepped out of Shadow, took the keys from the guard, and walked back to Lemont's cell.

  I looked through the barred view window at him, “You must have really made someone mad,” I said.

  He looked up at me, “who are you?”

  “Me? Oh, I'm just passing through, unlike you, my friend.”

  “Where's the jailer?”

  “He seemed tired, I put him out for a while.”

  “The keys?” He asked. I held them up jingling them. “Get me out of here and I'll make you a rich man.”

  I laughed, “with what? I don't see any gold in there,” I said, making a show of looking around his cell.

  “I can take you to the vault.”

  “I've already been to the vault, so I don't need you for that. Good luck,” I said turning away.

  “Wait!” he said, I looked back. “I have something to trade.” I waited. It's a magic necklace.”

  I laughed, “didn't seem to help you any.” I turned to leave again.

  “It nullifies magic, they didn't use magic on me, just men and chains. But it's extraordinarily strong. A dragon gave it to me.”

  That got my attention. I turned back, “a dragon, was it? Where was this? There's been no dragon sightings for generations.”

  “I was in the country of Farshores, years ago. It's kept me safe until now.”

  “Oh, you can do better than that. You should build the story up more. Like the old and wise dragon that lived in a cave sitting atop his treasure trove befriended you. Something better that, long ago, and far away.”

  “I can prove it!” He closed his eyes, he put his hand on his chest. After a moment, a large starburst stone medallion on a thick chain appeared. Holding it, “You get me out of here, and I'll give you this.”

  I unlocked the door and stepped in the cell. “You'll have to give it to me before I can get you out.”

  “No, you get me out first, then you get it.”

  I shook my head, “I can't get you out, because it nullifies my magic. You give it to me, then I can use my magic to get us both out.”

  “I don't trust you,” he said.

  “I don't trust you either, but once I strike a bargain, I keep it. There can be honor among thieves, you know,” I said smiling.

  “I don't really have a choice, do I?”

  I shrugged, “You could wait for the jailer to wake up, he might offer you a better deal.” I said, holding up the keys and jingling them. “But I'll sweeten the deal, I'll offer you vengeance against those who put you here.”

  He thought a moment, “deal,” he said taking off the necklace and tossed it to me. I caught it and dropped it in my purse. I threw him the keys so he could unlock his chains. Freed, he stood rubbing his wrists. “Now get me out of here, I need a bath and something to eat.”

  As soon as I turned my back, he swung the leg irons at my head. I had expected him to do something, and the Shadows had warned me
of his attack. I ducked under his swing, sweeping his leg, I pushed him into Shadow. He stumbled and fell sprawling, dropping the keys. I stepped away from him and surrounded myself in deeper shadows.

  He leapt to his feet, expecting me to attack he swung the leg irons where he thought I would be. I let him stumble about swinging the chains in the darkness.

  “Where are you?!” he screamed. I waited.

  “You've been a bad boy, Lermont. I offered you freedom and vergence and you tried to kill me. How were you going to get past the guards to get out of here?” He didn't say anything. “You don't really think things through, do you? Just like you didn't think through confiscating the ships and cargos that were suppling you at Farshores.”

  I moved around as I spoke, he turned, following the sound of my voice. “Although you are not alone. Starwick didn't think anyone would find out he was helping you take over Farshores. He died for that mistake. But your biggest error was ordering the deaths of my family and the mages of Farshores. Starwick was lucky, I killed him quickly, on the other hand you will not be so fortunate.” I moved again, he jumped at where the sound of my voice had been, swinging the leg irons. I stayed quiet, letting his imagination of all the things I might do work on him.

  I picked up the keys, and Shadow flowed to another Shadow leaving him to run around alone in the dark for a while. I Shadow Flowed back to the treasury vault and emptied it. It would be hard for the captain, whoever he was, the keep mercenaries with no money.

  I thought for a moment, I needed to stop the captain from making any more trouble, but I might need him for information.

  I Shadow Flowed to the captain’s office, and found he was still there and alone. I pulled him into Shadow and sent him sprawling. I didn't even say anything — just left him there. I'd let him stew for a while as well. The more I thought about it, the more I was convinced there were others giving the orders. Lermont wasn't smart enough to plan all this. And the captain had sent that message asking to be advised. I wanted to know who their masters were.