by Blink, Bob
He was relieved of his weapons, something that always made Roit uncomfortable, and placed on a different horse, one that was old and slow. His own horse was brought along behind in case the king decided this stranger was to be released. Several days later they reached the temporary village, and then Roit had to wait until evening before the raiding king returned.
He was bound the first time he was taken to meet the man. Bab’hon was in his mid forties, a strong leader with long hair tied with leather bands behind his back. He showed signs of the recent fighting, with several minor cuts on his arms, the blood dried, but the marks still healing. He stood in front of a very large tent, but one that Roit could tell was easy to take down for relocation. The camp might appear to be an established site, but was in fact a mobile command center that could be easily relocated.
“What purpose has brought you to my camp?” Bab’hon asked after giving Roit a long careful look over. “My men tell me you look to be from Lopal, but your speech is more like one would expect from Branid.”
“I was born in Lopal, along the river,” Roit confirmed. “I have been living some years in Branid, however.”
“You have forsaken your own land then?”
“Neither Lopal nor Branid have done anything for me. I have always made my own way. My employ at the moment has kept me there. The only side I’m on is my own.”
“And what brings you to seek me?”
“My employer has a proposition to put before you,” Roit said. “With the prospect of war, there is opportunity for each to gain what he wishes, perhaps with far less effort than might be thought necessary.”
Then Roit explained what the Duke was proposing.
“That is a very interesting proposal,” Bab’hon admitted after he’d heard what Roit had to say. “How can I be sure that he intends to be true to his word?”
“There would be too much to lose and little to gain by deception,” Roit relied. “You can see what the exchange will do for him.”
“This will have to be brought to the Lamane for consideration. There is a meeting between the leaders soon and he will be there to address the plans of the land. I could raise it at that time.” Bab’hon did not tell Roit that a new Lamane might well be elected at the same time, and whoever won that election would be the one who would have to consider the proposal. While he was certain I’Vorris would look upon the offer positively, he wasn’t as certain that It’oni would.
“Is there any way I could be present at that meeting?” Roit asked. “That would be the right time to propose the offer.”
“The location and time of the Caucus are secret. Your life would be forfeit if you were to appear uninvited. But I will take your words back for you.”
Bab’hon was reconsidering his decision not to attend. He had sent one of his sons with his vote, but he doubted it would be allowed. If he could bring this news, especially with the other enticement, it would raise his importance at the meeting and he might be able to influence the direction the election was to go. At the moment he was certain that I’Vorris would win, despite the growing favor that It’oni was winning and that most were on his side of the war issue.
“You indicated that as part of this deal you would reveal the path that Prince Rhory will be taking as he returns back to Sulen. My men have had a number of encounters with him, but now that we are properly manned and ready, he has been elusive. I would be pleased to bring his head to the meeting with me.”
“That would serve the Duke’s interests equally well,” Roit explained. Then he provided the details of the young Prince’s planned route. Since he was expecting reinforcements to join up with him, he would be bound to stay somewhat close to the plan the Duke had been able to ferret out in Sulen.
“You will stay here while my scouts verify this information. If it proves true, I will release you to return to your employer with my blessing and a promise to take care of the Prince and also to carry your proposal forward.”
Roit had been confined to camp for several days while the scouts sought out Prince Rhory. During his stay in the camp, Roit saw a number of young women who had clearly been taken captive from the raids into Branid. He paid them no attention. They were the property of the Lopal soldiers now, and he cared little what their fate might be. He suspected he’d been allowed to see them to observe what his reaction might be, and he intended it to be complete disinterest. Anything else would more than likely get him killed.
When the scouts returned with confirmation of Rhory’s whereabouts, Bab’hon was ecstatic.
“Your story checks out,” he said that night as they ate around the campfire in the center of camp. “You may leave in the morning. I will see to the Prince, and then make my way to the caucus. I will probably be late arriving, but not too late to address the combined leadership of Lopal.”
They made arrangements for future contact and a possible follow up meeting. The next morning Roit had been released, his horse and all his weapons returned to him. That had been two days ago now, and Roit had moved without much rest since then. Now watching the shore approach, he was almost back in Branid.
Roit wondered how the Duke’s part of the plan was progressing. If the schedule was being maintained, King Rupermore should be ill with the poison that Cordale had sent into Sulen. It would only be a matter of days before the King would be dead and a new leader would have to be elected. There would be no time to delay with the raids and threat of a possible war brewing. Roit knew he would be more valuable than ever to the Duke at this point. He was the only man who had contact with the leaders in Lopal, and the only one whom they would be likely to trust at this point. That made his own situation far more secure. If the Duke could succeed, Roit felt he could expect considerable reward for his efforts.
Roit watched as the ferry docked on Branid’s shore. The men had paid him no attention during the crossing. He would retrieve his horse, and then ride down river for a couple of hours where he knew some of the King’s forces were quartered. It would be a believable lie that he’d been scouting the Duke’s perimeter. Staying the night there would be secure, and then he could start for Sulen. That was where the Duke had told him to come after returning.
Chapter 43
Burke walked through the empty chamber of the great meeting hall on his way to the hearing room of the Trio of Elders, most often referred to as the Directorate. He knew he was going to hate what was coming next. Just because the Trio were the oldest among them, that didn’t mean they were the most capable. In fact, of the three, only one approached the level of ability that Burke possessed, and Burke wasn’t the strongest in the community by any means. Burke was simply the wizard in charge of recruitment, and therefore had a unique responsibility. He and eight others were charged with finding and bringing in any new wizards that were located. Recruitment was a strange word. They brought back those they found whether they wanted to come or not, and the first order of business was to adjust the newcomers allegiances to the group here, forsaking bonds to family and homeland. It was important to make them realize they were now part of something bigger and more important. It usually worked, although sometimes it took a while to be certain. They had a way to watch for improper behavior.
Burke nodded to one of the junior wizards he had recruited a couple of years earlier. Kela was her name, and at eighteen years of age was not bad looking, but while she had adapted quickly, she still held a bit of a grudge against him for the roughness he had shown when bringing her back. He watched as she walked across the empty chamber and out of sight. Then he sighed.
He continued on his way without breaking stride. Despite their unique abilities and power, they were still human, and blame needed to be assigned. He knew the Trio was preparing to make certain that any taint of failure fell on his shoulders. Well, that made sense. There were those who wished him to be elevated to a position within the Trio, something hithertofore unheard of. The Trio was the Trio because they had come first. They had found the old site where wizards h
ad once lived and had uncovered enough evidence to know that those with magic had once been many, with powers far greater than any amongst them held today. They had started the headquarters and begun the search for new wizards across the lands. That had brought them to where they were today. Except the members of the Trio were getting old. It wasn’t something that even the most powerful among them could avoid. They lived a little longer than their non-endowed counterparts, but not so very much more. Mostly the extended life was due to the ability to put off disease and such, although the magical energies within seemed to slow the aging process somewhat. But the time of the first major encounter was coming closer, and there were those, Burke among them, that felt the honorable Trio was not the group that should lead them for that.
He had arrived. He slowed his step momentarily to gather his thoughts, then stepped purposefully through the entrance to the private meeting room the Trio retained for their meetings. It was adjacent to the chamber of the Great meeting hall on purpose. They could wait until the others had arrived and then step from their own area into the meeting area where they held command of the proceedings.
Februus, the recognized senior of the group, looked up as he entered. “You’re late again,” he barked.
If he was late, it was merely a matter of a couple of minutes, but Burke didn’t bother to challenge him. He simply nodded and walked over to the chair that waited for him across from the three men. Februus wore the dark robes he thought that senior wizards had worn so many centuries ago. Nadav and Gagan, the other two members of the Trio also wore robes of a similar type, but theirs were lighter in color, in deference to the other’s superiority. Burke wore typical Branid clothes, but then he was often away and lived in that environment.
“Well, did you learn anything?” Februus asked. “We gave you another week to check matters out. I know you have disrupted normal recruitment efforts and assigned several of your staff investigative duties in this matter.”
“We can’t locate Rigo,” Burke told them bluntly getting right to the heart of the matter. “Somehow the man has managed to simply disappear.”
“I can’t recall that ever happening before,” Gagan said from Februus’ left. “Once a wizard has been located, especially if we have approached him, he has never eluded us. How could this happen?”
“It would be good to know,” agreed Burke. “I would also like to know how he was able to overpower the transfer bubble once I had him inside. His powers should have been neutralized and he should have been unable to take any action. Instead he not only escaped but he wrestled away control from me and forced a return back to here. A rather jarring return at that. My return also disabled the system for more than a day. Such a thing has never been done. We would have all said it was impossible.”
“Is he that powerful then?” asked Nadav who had been silent to this point.
“Not at all,” laughed Burke. “He was amazed at what I could do. His own powers would have been insufficient to save his own life let alone those who travel with him had I not helped them out.”
“Then how was he able to accomplish such a feat?” Februus asked.
“I have talked with Gadil,” Burke said. “He is certain it has something to do with the interesting staff that Rigo carries. It looks much like the one that Gadil carries. Of course, Gadil admits that while his staff really doesn’t interact with him well, it does seem to enhance his abilities sometimes. He postulates that if the staff were to meld with the user, it might greatly increase his abilities. The old texts seem to imply a wizard of sufficient power could fashion such a device. That is somewhat consistent with what I observed. On an earlier occasion when he didn’t have the staff with him I was able to prevent his interference with my actions.”
“How would Rigo have come upon such a device and why would he be anymore in tune with his staff than Gadil is with the one he has carried for more than forty years?”
“That I cannot explain, but Rigo appeared to be far more formidable when he had the staff in his possession. You recall that when I first approached him and noticed the staff the decision was made to follow him for a time and learn what we could of him. He had the necklace so we were certain we would be able to keep tabs on him. Then he was separated from the tracker and we lost him for a while.”
“Then in the future your attempts must be made when he is separated from the staff. It is to be brought back for study as well,” Februus commanded.
Burke nodded. He had already decided as much.
“There are not many places Rigo and his band could have gone without attracting attention,” Nadav noted. “There are no words passing between lips of such a band of strangers?”
“We have a minimum number of people that owe us favors in that area,” Burke reminded them. “I have personally returned to Ny’em and checked. I am certain they did not end up there. They might have returned the way they had come, but that would have been risky and there has been no word of such a band in the likely places they would pass through.”
“What does that leave?” Gagan asked.
“They either found a way across the river, or headed east over the mountains. That is what I suspect. It would also fit since we have no easy way to get to the lands on the far side of those mountains.”
“You are certain the tracking device has been disabled or destroyed?” Februus asked. This matter had already been discussed at length.
“It cannot be sensed, even by the most sensitive tracker in the clan,” Burke said. “Somehow Rigo has managed to block it.”
“That would be a remarkable feat,” Februus reminded Burke. “There are none among us who can do so, and to destroy it would require the ability to be able to make one. That would belie your claims he is far less strong than yourself.”
Burke would like to claim that Rigo was more powerful. That would take some of the onus off himself for failing to bring Rigo back. But it simply wasn’t the case. He was certain of it.
“I do not know how it was done, but there has been no sign of either Rigo or the tracking device since I was forced back here some weeks ago.”
“You must find him, whatever is required. If you must send teams by slow travel into the eastern reaches of Lopal, then do so. We are not yet strong enough and one who can do what he has demonstrated, despite his supposed weaker strength, might have answers we need. The numbers of the Razmot are growing. This year we have seen a tenfold increase. Soon we will not be able to contain them,” Februus reminded him.
The Razmot. None of them knew if that was really the correct name for the creatures, but it had stuck. The few old texts told of a danger that had appeared and seemed to threaten mankind, normal and wizard alike. They had assumed the creatures, immune to all but the intense energy bolts or something they had yet to rediscover, were what was being referred to. At first there had been only a few of the things, but each year the number grew. It was as if magic was becoming more common as witnessed by the greater number of wizards they uncovered each year. The greater presence of magical ability seemed to be affecting the number of Razmot as well. Unfortunately the numbers of the magical beasts grew faster than their own ranks, and unless something could be done, within a year or two the beasts would overrun them and invade the areas they had been mostly able to protect up to now. If that happened, men were more than likely doomed. While it was possible to kill one with non-magical means, it took a great deal of effort and more than a little luck. Burke had seen it done only once, and that creature had been sick at the time.
“I understand the urgency,” Burke replied.
“Then go out and find him,” demanded Februus. “Then observe him and prepare to take him by force. Bring others than your team if necessary. But I want your plan put before this group before you take action. Understood?”
Burke nodded, then stood as the elder wizard waved his hand to indicate discussions were over. Burke turned and walked out of the chambers and back into the Great Hall, losing the words of the three
who were talking behind him. He didn’t know where he would start, but would more than likely have to pull back his whole team and send them on unguided searches. He disagreed with the Trio. Rigo was only one wizard. Jut because he had eluded them, it didn’t make sense to curtail other operations that were finding much needed novices to fill their ranks. This effort would set them back. But if he didn’t do what was ordered, he would be replaced and someone else would end up taking the same action. He might as well do as told.
Burke walked through the open area and then into one of the smooth tunnels that honeycombed the hillside. This place had been built by the wizards of old for reasons none of them knew, and represented power they couldn’t begin to duplicate. There were openings to the outside with large observation balconies, yet viewed from the outside the hillside looked unmarked. Some kind of magic was used to create an illusion and alter the vision from what was really there. Only by accident had Februus and Nadav stumbled onto the openings that led inside to discover the greatest consolidation of the ancient lore that existed anywhere. Located on the far eastern edge of Lopal, in a gorge that was all but impossible to reach on foot, the Caves were not far from the beginning of the Ruins from whence the Razmot originated. They didn’t know precisely where. They weren’t yet strong enough to brace the creatures in their own territory.
At the moment the strength of the community stood at fifty-six. Fifty-six wizards of varying ages and ability. Eight of them were like himself and tasked with searching for more members to join them. Twenty-six were either trainers or trainees. Ten were assigned to monitor the Razmot along the eastern edges of Lopal and report back incursions into the settled areas. Teams would be sent to chase the creatures away or destroy them when possible. That was becoming harder as special ability was required to kill them. This year many attacks had gotten through, and large herds of wild beasts had been destroyed or severely reduced by the attacking Razmot. Some of the Lopalians had become aware that something was happening, although only a couple of humans who had encountered the creatures had escaped alive.
