Plague Arcanist (Frith Chronicles Book 4)

by Shami Stovall

  Why did Vethica want to know about them? Perhaps she was hoping to find one?

  “Forget about it,” Captain Devlin said. “We have more important matters to deal with.” He gave a quick bow of his head to the dockhand.

  Instead of bowing her head back, the dockhand placed three fingers over her heart—her thumb, pointer, and middle. I had never seen such a gesture before, and I stared for a long moment afterward, wondering why she made it.

  My gaze obviously didn’t sit well with her, because she glowered in my direction and then motioned to the sandstone steps that led to the city wall. “Quickly now.”

  I followed the captain, shadowing his path. Fain and Adelgis flanked me, neither saying a word. I couldn’t help but notice the harsh sting of stray sand whenever the wind sped up enough to carry it.

  “No one has managed to bond with a khepera in over two decades,” Adelgis said, his voice in my mind rather than my ears.

  I wasn’t unaccustomed to telepathy, but I hadn’t been expecting it, either. I half-slipped from the steps, and Fain grabbed my upper arm to prevent me from tumbling down onto the city wall. I corrected my footing and muttered a quick thanks. I could’ve shadow-stepped if anything had gotten too serious, but I still appreciated his help.

  Adelgis continued as though nothing had happened. “There used to be a bonding ceremony every two years, but my father says no one celebrates anymore. He said the creatures have disappeared.”

  While I mulled over the odd information, I kept my attention on the cityscape unfolding before me. Sandstone spires dominated New Norra’s silhouette, some with needle-points so fine, they practically vanished at the tip, disappearing into the brilliance of the blue sky. Great efforts had been made to paint the bricks of the walls and buildings all throughout the city. Red, blue, and golden yellow were used on almost every structure, giving the city spots of color despite the universal use of sandstone.

  As I stared, I noticed a pattern. Red bricks and roofs were primarily used on homes, the gold was used on shops and merchant areas, and the blue seemed exclusively designated to the drinking fountains, baths, and river access paths. The color-coding of the city struck me as ingenious. Even if someone couldn’t read the signs posted on most corners, they could still quickly find what they wanted inside the city.

  The denizens of New Norra kept themselves covered from the neck down past their ankles. Most wore hats—some with large brims, others with long veils—but no one covered their forehead, not even with long bangs or messy hair. Everywhere I looked, men and women alike wore their hair back and in a tight ponytail or they kept their hair short enough that it couldn’t hang across their face.

  Arcanists kept their forehead apparent because of the mark designating them as someone who had bonded with a mystical creature, but non-arcanists didn’t need to do such a thing. It made me wonder whether there was a law against hiding one’s forehead or if that was just a custom for the gigantic city.

  “I already hate it here,” Fain muttered under his breath.

  Sweat soaked his button-up shirt, and he tugged at the front of it, unsticking the fabric from his chest every couple of seconds. I couldn’t see Wraith—no doubt he was invisible, to hide his frightening visage—but I could hear his constant panting. Halfway down the stairs, Fain used his magic to frost his clothing, keeping him cool for a grand total of ten seconds before the rime evaporated in the heat. Then he did it again.

  Once we stepped onto the top of the city’s wall, I got a better view of the main street. The river of bodies flowed in both directions as merchants, traders, soldiers, craftsmen, and sailors made their way through the city. The citizens of New Norra had a distinct dress, but the many individuals in the main street wore clothing from all around the world, including the buccaneer attire I was accustomed to seeing from the islands—long coats, high boots, and button-up shirts.

  I observed the people, wishing the sun would set. Heavy steps broke my thoughts, and I turned around to spot my father still descending the stairway. His blue phoenix had flown off, blending with the cloudless azure of the sky, leaving him alone as he carefully made each step.

  His bad leg pained him, I could see it in the restrained grimaces, but he still smiled when he noticed me watching.

  “You excited for the city, boy?” he asked as he stepped off the stairway and then clasped my shoulder.

  “It is fascinating,” I said. “But…”

  I wanted to enjoy it, I really did, but I feared the crowds and the mingling of people from far off places. Much like in Thronehold, there were too many people here to sift through them with any sort of efficiency, and because of my condition, I didn’t want to accidentally infect someone who would then jump on their ship and take off to distant lands, harming even more people in the process.

  How was I going to find Theasin Venrover in a city as massive and populated as New Norra?

  “I want to speak to the visiting mystic seekers,” Vethica said. She pulled a cowl over her head, using the hood to shield her face from the sun. “Karna… would you accompany me?”

  Karna swished back her hair. The sweat dappling her skin only heightened her attractiveness, as though she were the human personification of an oasis. “Of course.” She gave me a smirk when she caught me staring and then offered a quick wave goodbye as she headed off with Vethica. “Don’t get into too much trouble without me.”

  “Be back before it gets dark,” the captain said.

  “Aye, aye,” Karna replied with a sarcastic curtsy.

  The captain opened his mouth to say something more, but he was cut off by a loud shout.

  “Wait!”

  Biyu flew down the steps, her book clutched tight to her chest, even though she had a leather strap to carry it like a satchel. With only one eye, I figured there was a good chance she would trip, so I readied my control of the shadows to catch her, just in case. Thankfully, it never happened. She hopped down the last two steps and landed in front of us.

  “Cabin Girl Biyu, reporting for duty,” she stated in a cheery tone.

  “I told you to wait on the ship,” Captain Devlin said, annoyance in his voice.

  “But I have to document everything!”

  “It’s dangerous in the city. You’ll be safer on the Sun Chaser. Take notes there.”

  Biyu frowned, and her one eye practically grew in size from the welling tears. I considered it more adorable than sad, and in that moment, I’d never be able to tell her no, regardless of the request.

  The captain groaned. “Don’t look at me like that.” He pulled his hat off his head and then placed it firmly on Biyu. It was too large and fell straight past her eyebrows.

  Biyu lifted the hat enough to peek out. “What’s this for?”

  “If you’re going to walk around town with me, you’ll need a hat. A little lass like you could get heatstroke.”

  Her fake tears dried up in an instant, swallowed by the biggest smile she had yet. “You won’t regret taking me along!” She rubbed at her nose and then added, “But won’t you need a hat? Old men get heatstroke, too.”

  “I’m not—” Captain Devlin gritted his teeth. Then he took Biyu by the shoulder and led her along the city wall. “You know what? I need a new hat, anyway. That’ll be our first stop.”

  Once they had wandered a fair distance, I realized it was just Fain, Adelgis, and my father remaining.

  “I’ve visited New Norra tons of times.” Jozé motioned to the same walkway the captain had taken. “I’ll show you around, if you like. Keep you out of trouble. That kind of thing.”

  Fain and Adelgis gave each other a knowing glance. Then Fain shrugged and motioned to the distant docks. “I wanna see the free port, anyway.”

  “I’ll head to the research labs and library,” Adelgis said. “I know my father visits them whenever he stops in New Norra. Someone there might know his location.”

  I wanted to go with Adelgis, to help in the search, but he gave me an odd look.
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br />   “I’ll be fine,” he said, his telepathic voice different than when Luthair spoke to me while merged. “You should take advantage of this time to explore the city with someone who knows their way around. Perhaps you can gather useful information.”

  I knew he was just giving me an excuse to spend time with my father, but he still had a point. Perhaps knowing a little more about my surroundings would help lessen the ever-building anxiety.

  “Lead the way,” I said to Jozé.

  He took a breath, straightened his posture, and led me down the city wall. Although he had a bad leg, he hid it well now that we were walking on a stable, flat surface—no rocking from a ship, no steps down a stairway. Tine flew down so she was closer, but she remained a good twenty feet in the air, her soot fluttering down like black snow.

  A chorus of bells rang out.

  I stopped and stared out over the many buildings, wondering where the music was coming from.

  “The sun is setting,” Jozé said.

  “That’s why they ring the bells?”

  “It gets pretty cold at night, and the heat can get brutal on certain days. That’s why they ring the bells—to warn people about the impending sunset and sunrise.”

  The sun remained in the sky, and I suspected it wouldn’t fully set for another hour. They were giving us that long to prepare? How cold could it possibly get?

  My father took another set of stairs down the wall. It led to the interior of the city, and soldiers stood at the top and bottom, all with pistols and scimitars—curved sabers that hung from their belts, easily pulled in the thick of battle. I examined the men as we passed, and each returned my stare with cold calculation. I wondered if they thought we were pirates, but since they said nothing, I decided not to engage.

  “The Amber Dunes are home to some of the deadliest mystical creatures,” Jozé said once he reached the bottom step. “The desert is so unforgiving that even the animals become vicious, ya know what I mean?” He said everything with a smirk, but I didn’t quite understand.

  “What creatures?” I asked.

  Luthair shifted around my feet. “Manticores, death worms, cockatrices, and basilisks are all found in the Amber Dunes, my arcanist.”

  A shiver ran down my spine. Manticores were practically an evil version of a griffin, complete with a deadly scorpion tail. Death worms moved through the ground like water, their crimson skin deadly to the touch. Cockatrices had gazes that could turn things to stone, and basilisks had potent venom—not as potent as the king basilisk, but still powerful enough to kill an arcanist.

  All of those things came from the same desert? Impressive and frightening—it started to feel as though the city were a safe haven from the many forms of death lurking in the sands and waters around us. If I didn’t die from the heat, a random mystical creature could get me. Or, worse yet, a pirate in the delta. I’d have to stay on my toes.

  My father and I walked into a narrow alley between sandstone buildings and then stepped out into the street. The brick roads gave New Norra a sophisticated appearance, as though the city had been planned out in advance. I marveled for a moment—most cities I visited had dirt or cobblestone thoroughfares. Red, blue, and gold painted bricks were placed together to form guiding lines. I followed the gold line with my gaze, watching it continue down the main road and head straight for the markets.

  I started to head in that direction, but Jozé placed a hand on my shoulder. “Not that way.” He gestured down the road. “C’mon.”

  “You don’t want to purchase anything?”

  “It reeks of nobility in the center bazaar.” He scoffed and urged me away from the hustle and bustle of the market crowd. “And to be honest, I’m not comfortable with the upper crusts of the arcanist world. We should avoid areas where aristocrats might show their dainty faces.”

  Although I wasn’t sure if I shared his sentiment, I knew I wanted to avoid as many arcanists as possible, so I didn’t fight him. I allowed him to lead me away from the center bazaar and straight for the delta docks.

  The denizens gave us quick glances before stepping aside to allow us room to walk. I didn’t meet anyone’s gaze and instead kept my hands shoved deep in my pockets the entire time. At one point, a merchant riding a slender horse tried to get my attention with two toots of an emasculated horn. I glanced up, surprised to see the merchant was actually trying to sell me some fine cloth. She held it out, muttered something I didn’t catch.

  “Get out of here,” he growled, cutting her off.

  The merchant kicked at her horse and trotted off in the opposite direction.

  “What was that?” I asked.

  “We look out of place,” Jozé said as he motioned to our clothes. “And some of the locals will try to fleece you. Just ignore them.”

  Most buildings were two stories, and I enjoyed walking in their shadows as we continued our travel. After a few blocks, my father slowed his gait.

  “So,” he muttered. He rubbed the hip of his bad leg. No other words escaped him.

  Clearly, he wanted to speak, but it would fall to me to start the dialogue.

  “Have you had any other children?” I asked. Perhaps I had a larger family than I expected.

  Jozé shook his head. “I was afraid. I had already left one, so why would I take that risk again?”

  His melancholy tone didn’t help my mood. I should’ve asked something a little more… not depressing.

  “Favorite food?” I asked. Innocuous questions were safe.

  “Eggs. Lots of eggs. Yours?”

  “Fish soup.”

  He nodded. Then he patted me on the shoulder and flashed a half-smile. “Is there a girl or boy or someone you’re smitten with? You look like you could break hearts.”

  “Uh…” I rubbed at the back of my neck. “It’s complicated.”

  “Heh.” Jozé smiled wider. “What an understatement. Nothing is as complicated as love. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

  “Volke.”

  Adelgis’s unexpected telepathy didn’t startle me like it had before. I glanced around, hoping I would see him, but the crowds on the main street were too thick.

  “I’m sorry to interrupt you, but I have potentially good news.”

  Could I answer? I didn’t know how. When I spoke telepathically with Luthair, it happened naturally, but with Adelgis, it felt like a one-way communication.

  “I couldn’t help myself. I started asking around about the khepera and why they had disappeared.”

  He wanted to know about the magical scarabs? That made sense. Adelgis always had a fascination with mystical creatures.

  “No one can explain why they started disappearing, but several of the city’s Watch Battalion knows why the Marshall of the Southern Seas is here. The marshall wants to search the city for any khepera that might be hiding. She thinks their magic of renewal can be used to cure the plague.”

  I stopped dead in my tracks, my heart hammering hard.

  “Really?” I asked aloud, even though that was foolish.

  “I think there might be some real merit behind her conclusions,” Adelgis continued, likely without having heard my question. “Khepera are creatures of powerful renewal. Perhaps we won’t need to find my father if we find a khepera instead.”

  12

  The Reaper Arcanist

  “What’s wrong?” Jozé asked, his eyebrows knitted.

  I massaged my temple. “Do you know much about the khepera? And about their disappearance? I’d like to know more.”

  “Really?” There was more excitement in his voice than I had expected. “I didn’t think you were the scholarly type.”

  I gave him a sideways glance, uncertain of how to reply.

  He relaxed and then exhaled, his expression shifting to something between amused and apologetic. “I saw how well you fought in the Sovereign Dragon Tournament, and I just figured you were more about brawn. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”

  He motioned for me
to follow as he turned away from the main street. We abandoned the blue line that led to the shipyard as we traveled down one narrow alleyway and then to the next.

  “I’ve always preferred academic pursuits,” Jozé said. “I guess it runs in the blood.”

  “I do enjoy reading.” I kept close to him as we walked, hoping he wasn’t leading us through a bad part of town. “Did you ever read about all the grand arcanists of the past? The swashbucklers and heroes, like Lark the Gallant and Gregory Ruma?”

  “You mean those really old tales?”

  I nodded.

  Jozé chuckled and shook his head. “Those are for children. I’ve always been fascinated by trinket and artifact creation or unexplained magical mysteries. Real things worth my time.”

  His dismissive tone ate at me, but I didn’t say anything. Perhaps they were kids’ things.

  We walked by a group of homeless individuals huddled together in a fraternal circle, hiding from the sun in the shadows between buildings. Their ratty clothes and unkempt hair bothered me—a piece of me wanted to stop and see if I could help them—but I had no coins, and even if I had, I suspected New Norra had its own currency. What could I do for them? My magic didn’t lend itself to aid.

  My father continued through the city, rubbing at his leg occasionally.

  “Aren’t you a phoenix arcanist?” I asked, matching his pace, even if I could walk faster. “Why not have Tine heal your leg?”

  “Blue phoenixes are a little different,” Jozé said. “Their fire is beyond compare, but they don’t heal like the red phoenixes do.”

  I nodded along with the words, remembering the book Adelgis’s father had written on mystical creatures. Theasin had stated something similar—blue phoenix fire could burn even those immune to the destruction of heat.

  “How did you get the injury?” I asked.

  Jozé gritted his teeth. He didn’t answer right away, he just scratched at his stubble. I almost told him to forget I had asked, but then he replied, “I got it when I… killed the man… on the Isle of Ruma. Because my injury had begun to heal before I became an arcanist, it’s stayed with me.”