by Blink, Bob
They were not too different from the annual crop that had come to the Citadel so long ago. The difference was these people varied in age considerably. Back then, almost every new recruit was within a year or two of the age when the gift first revealed itself. Daim, and therefore Rigo, didn’t need the special necklace to detect whether an individual had the gift, nor to sense how strong they might become. Those devices had initially been developed to help aid their non-gifted friends in the search for those emerging with the gift.
Rigo had passed by over half of the members of the outpost community when he spotted the much older man with the staff. Rigo could not help but walk directly over to the man. Daim hadn’t asserted himself in any way since Rigo had assumed control, but now Rigo could feel the urgency that Daim was projecting and allowed himself to be directed toward the man. When he approached he could see that the staff was an exact copy of the one he’d carried for so long.
“May I?” Rigo asked, holding out his hand.
The man, Gadil he said his name was, nodded and passed over the staff. Rigo could sense that Daim was examining it through Rigo’s senses. So that’s what happened, Rigo sensed more than heard in the back of his mind. So easily avoided. I never considered that aspect of the problem.
He found himself asking, “The one you found with the staff was dead, wasn’t he?”
Gadil stood stiff, shocked by the question. He had never told anyone the exact circumstances under which he had acquired the staff. Slowly he nodded.
“He was my friend. He had just detected his gift. I had found out I was different more than a year earlier and Toma was the only one I’d told. We hoped he would also develop the ability, and when he did, we planned how we would change the village. Then, just a week later, I found him dead, with this staff beside him. I never knew where he had gotten it or what happened. I have assumed all these years that he overtaxed himself with his newly found abilities.”
As soon as Daim was satisfied, Rigo passed the staff back to Gadil. It was mostly inert, but still granted him some small gains in ability. If he agreed to what Rigo proposed, he would find it was of little use to him before long.
“I’m sorry about your friend,” Rigo found himself saying. “His death was my fault.”
I would do it differently next time, Daim whispered in the back of his mind. A simple change would have prevented the problem and overcome the delays. Stupid, stupid.
Rigo turned his attention back to examining the group. Near the end he almost passed by a young girl, too young to have developed the gift. He wondered why she was here. No one else he’d encountered was without some ability with magic. The eyes were what caught his attention. He stopped and turned back to find those dark orbs watching him closely. Intelligence far beyond her years stared back at him. He probed deeper and was shocked.
“You are no normal child,” he said softly.
“I am not a child,” she insisted, defiant in her objection.
“I realize that now,” Rigo agreed. “May I?” he asked and reached out his hand toward her.
She nodded slowly, granting him permission.
“What is your name?” Rigo asked as his hand rested gently alongside her head.
“Nycoh,” she replied.
Rigo drew in a sharp breath. “You are only seven years of age?” he asked. He couldn’t believe what he was sensing. She already had a limited ability to block signs of her gift, a talent most never learned. He had almost missed her. In addition, she not only had the gift at too early an age, but every one of her nodes was active. He, actually Daim, had never encountered that before. Further, she had a depth and a potential power that was far beyond anything he had ever sensed. He could almost sense Daim squirming inside him.
“You have remarkable strength,” Rigo said as he withdrew his hand.
“I am as strong as anyone here,” she said smugly as only a child could. “Ask Burke.”
“She has other talents as well,” Burke said. He had been following along with the Elders and Rigo as he examined the group. “She can read many of the ancient texts in the library we found here. Most is of little use, but through Nycoh’s chance reading, we have learned a little of the past. If the texts are valid, society was more advanced than it is now.”
“Considerably,” Rigo agreed without thinking. More than once he had reached for a convenience that Daim took for granted and that no longer existed.
“I’d like to speak with you later,” he said to the young girl. She smiled and nodded.
No other surprises awaited him as he finished the inspection. When he had finished, he returned to the front of the group.
“I have explained what I believe must be done. Now it is up to you to consider your individual paths. You are needed, but the task ahead requires you to be stronger. I’ll be back in a day or so to perform the brief procedure on those who have decided to allow it. If any have already decided, I can start those of you on the way to your full ability.”
Rigo hoped there might be some. If he could start even a couple and the others could see the change, it would help convince them.
“I’m ready,” Burke said almost immediately. He had decided this might be a way of atoning for his earlier actions and perhaps gain Rigo’s respect. Besides, he wanted the additional ability that Rigo was demonstrating.
“Burke!” warned Februus sharply.
“I believe him,” Burke replied. “I first encountered Rigo when he knew almost nothing of his ability. I met him later when he was stronger, but still well below me in ability. Now I see what he has become, and I have seen him as both Rigo and Daim, something none of the rest of you have witnessed. I have also seen more of the Hoplani and know what he says is true about their numbers. Go to the Ruins and you will be shocked what is growing there. No, I believe we need to trust him.”
“Perhaps it is fitting,” Rigo agreed. “Come here and I can demonstrate to all how simple it is.”
“Will I gain the ability to create the arches as you can?” Burke asked.
“I hadn’t planned in passing that ability just yet,” Rigo said. He wasn’t ready to have wizards who could go almost anywhere anytime they wished. Once the ability was granted, it couldn’t be taken back. “Why do you ask?”
There are others out there with the gift. We have several identified, but have neglected going in search of them since your surprise arrival. Using the freight pods, as you call them, is indeed restrictive, and it can take weeks to months even using them to actually locate the recruits. If I could come and go wherever I wish, it would make such recruitment far easier. You have said that was important.”
Rigo considered Burke’s words. He was right, Rigo realized. There was a need for individuals who could retrieve those they identified. He and Jeen would be too busy to do it all themselves. While Rigo was considering, two other voices were heard.
“We’re ready as well,” they said in unison.
Rigo noted that the voices belonged to Kela and Tana, two of those who had been with Burke near the Ruins.
“Okay,” Rigo agreed. “I can see the need. For you three I will grant that ability. For everyone else we will wait and see. You will be unable to pass the skill on to others since I will not, at this time, be passing the knowledge of how this is done. When I return, I’ll show you how to use your new ability.”
Burke smiled and stepped forward, wanting to be the first. It was only a matter of minutes before Rigo was finished with the three, and then five others from the assembled group. That seemed to be all who were ready for the moment. It was as much as Rigo or Daim could hope for. None of the Trio had agreed.
“I’d like to stay on,” Ash’urn insisted when the time came for them to return to the inn.
“For what reason?” Rigo asked. “You have no ability to defend yourself should anyone here decide to act against you for some reason.”
“I don’t think they would dare. Besides, I would like to speak with Nycoh and examine this library of
hers. I have spent my life searching for information and the history of our land, and it might be here waiting. She can read the books!” Ash’urn declared happily.
“I will promise he will be safe,” Burke said.
Rigo finally nodded. Ash’urn knew where they had made their headquarters, and he would rather that remained secret for now, but he’d know on his return if anyone had forced that information from him. They could always relocate. He was mostly swayed by what Ash’urn might learn from Nycoh. Rigo already had a plan of his own involving the young girl, and it would be useful to have Ash’urn’s assessment after spending a couple of days with her.
“Alright,” Rigo said finally. “Burke, I’m trusting you to see to Ash’urn’s needs. I’ll be back in a day or two depending on what my friends have found.”
With a brief nod, he opened the Bypass and disappeared.
Chapter 71
Daria took the lead as they moved away from their arrival point in the alley and out into the morning sunlight of the marketplace. She had talked this over with Kaler who had agreed her knowledge of the city was far greater. She had learned the city intimately as part of a pair of assignments a couple of years earlier. Kaler had spent time in Sulen, but his familiarity was far more superficial. He had not been forced to pay attention to detail and had spent most of his time in one section of the town.
Most of the morning was spent moving among the people and getting a general feel for how they acted and the types of concerns they discussed with their friends. Moving from the wealthier areas to the poorer sections, they were able to see how the change resulting from the death of the King had altered people’s lives and influenced their thinking. The first thing that Daria noted was the almost total lack of any presence by the city guard. Shopkeepers had hired able-bodied men to replace the lack of formal protection. These made their presence known by being prominently on display around the markets or at the entrance to the larger shops. A few questions revealed that the missing guard had been sent along with virtually all of the militia that normally guarded the town to augment Branid’s forces in the east. Lopal had invaded, and war was on the horizon. People were clearly fearful, and the shopping indicated that fear as people were stocking up in preparation for a possible siege. Daria knew that a siege was impossible. Sulen was not set up to resist an invading army, with no protective walls surrounding it. If Lopal were able to break through the defending forces, Sulen would be an open prize.
“I didn’t think there would be an attack before next spring,” Kaler said as they walked through yet another busy marketplace.
“Rigo will want to know,” Daria agreed. “This will affect his planning.”
It didn’t take long to learn that most of the population was very uncertain of the new King. Much of that was due to the simple newness of the monarch, and the fact that they had been unprepared to have someone like Cordale step up as their ruler. The people had long expected that one day Rhory would follow after his father in a natural progression. The upheaval resulting from the defeat and killing of Rhory added to the traitorous actions of his brother Rhog had an unsettling effect on the populace. Add to that the unnatural death of King Rupermore in such an uncertain time, and they didn’t know what to expect. A few had previous awareness of Cordale, and those had reason to worry about the new leader for other reasons.
The attitude was mixed as to what had really happened to King Rupermore. Some were certain that Lopal was behind his death and that it had been planned to remove him just before the invasion to make taking the country more certain. There was a surprisingly large group that was certain that Cordale was behind the death as a means to take advantage of Rhory’s death and assume control of the country. A smaller group felt that the former King had somehow angered Risos and had been smitten by the old disease as a result. How else could he have had symptoms of the plague, which had miraculously not spread to others. Most of these could not explain why his daughter had been taken, but they didn’t have access to all that had transpired, so there could well be a sound reason. A few suspected Rhog, who was clearly responsible for his brother’s death, might have also planned the removal of his father as well. Many simply didn’t know, and only worried what the new king would do to make their lives more difficult. They also wondered how well he would be prepared to defend the land. If Rhory could be so easily beaten, then what hope could there be?
The priests of the Order of Risos also found themselves in an awkward situation. One of their own had been implicated. Orano had confessed to being involved with Rhog. Confessed! Of course who wouldn’t confess under the ministrations of the interrogators. But he had provided details of their plotting, so most believed he had been a co-conspirator. He had denied that he had any part of a plot against the former king, but most felt that only meant he wasn’t involved in that aspect of the overall plan. Many looked at the Order now and wondered who had been responsible for that part of the plan. Even the Cardinal wasn’t free from suspicion. People just didn’t know what to think.
The Queen and Rhory’s widow had all but disappeared. There were rumors about them, but few real facts. Daria knew that Rigo would want to know and decided it was time to go and see one of her contacts who would have better information than what they could hope to gather by working the streets.
“Who is this guy?” Kaler asked as Daria led them down one of the twisty and extremely narrow pathways running through the back area of one of the rougher parts of town.
“He’s a friend of the Wanderer’s,” Daria explained. “He runs a pawn shop, but it’s mostly a front for the other business he does. There isn’t much that happens that Mirk doesn’t hear about one way or another. He gathered certain intelligence for me on a job some time back. Also found me a place to stay. We can trust him.”
Jeen had been silent for the most part. She was watching Daria as they made their way through the back alleys. This was a different Daria than she had grown to know, and despite being told what Daria was, she hadn’t entirely believed her. Now seeing the confidence and smoothness with which the other proceeded, she began to believe what she had been told.
“There it is,” Daria said, pointing to a tired looking shop across a narrow dirt street. “He thinks my name is Karthi,” she warned her friends, “although I’d bet coin that he suspects I’m the Kalabhoot.”
There was no reason to be overly cautious. No one was seeking them. No one could even know they were in Sulen. Confidently Daria stepped into the street and led the way into the ancient building.
A small bell tinkled when they opened the door and a voice from the back hollered, “Be with ya in a moment.”
Kaler looked around noting that no one else was present and that the goods being offered were in a sorry state. He wondered that much of anything here had any value. If he’d owned anything he saw, he would have been tempted to simply throw it away.
A tall raw boned man with thinning gray hair made his way from the back of the shop. He walked laboriously, and Kaler could see that one of his legs wouldn’t straighten entirely. While the rest of the man was worn down and tired, his eyes were sharp and quick as they jumped between them as he lumbered his way forward. A smile broke out on his face as he realized who Daria was.
“Karthi,” he said happily. “I wondered what had become of you. There were rumors, but I didn’t believe them.” That seemed to dispel any question that he knew who she was.
“Hi Mirk,” she replied. “You don’t appear to have changed much.”
Mirk flashed a toothy grin and ran a knurly hand through his wispy hair. “Less hair,” he said. “What brings you here?” he asked as he looked at Kaler and Jeen. “I thought you always traveled alone.”
“Times change,” Daria replied. “I need some information. Much has changed since I was last in Sulen, and events of the past weeks have been surprising.”
“Aye,” Mirk agreed. “There have been some dark deeds to be sure, and only some of them are commonly known
. With war on the horizon, it’s likely the truth will never be fully revealed.”
“What do you know of events?” Daria asked.
“Not much really. Rumors, suspicions, odd events. The occasional missing person. Enough to doubt what we are being told is related to the truth.”
“The death of King Rupermore?”
“Murder, almost certainly. Some claim that it was the son with his friends in the order, but I’d say one should look closer to who benefited by the loss of our king.”
“Cordale,” Daria said softly.
Mirk nodded. “That’d be my guess. He moved into place far too smoothly. He had everything prepared. How would that be if he didn’t know what was coming, and if he knew that, then he must have had a hand in it.”
“What of the Queen and Lady Mos’pera?” Daria asked.
“They are being kept at an estate not too far from the castle. It is said they left their quarters in the castle of their own accord, but from what I hear they never leave the grounds of the residence. Sounds to me like they are prisoners of a sort, however nice the confinement might be. The Prince is in the castle dungeon of course, along with the father of Rhog’s supposed fiancée.”
“Who would that be?” Daria asked.
“Don’t know her name, Eng, Angie, Inge or some such, but I could find out if it’s important. A lot of effort has been made to make her an accomplice to Rhog’s treachery, but the word on the street is that Cordale had a standing feud with her father and is using the situation to rid himself of an old rival. Her father was a well off merchant noble that lived east of town. The girl herself apparently lived on the coast and only recently moved to Sulen.”
