“Yeah, that’s what he said.”
“He looks too young to have that kind of power. He doesn’t look much older than you,” Umair said to Joshua.
“Archmage Krendall said it would be a bad idea to underestimate him,” Joshua replied.
“Krendall is good deal wiser than many of the fools upstairs,” an old, cracked voice cackled from behind them. “You’d be wise to heed his advice.”
The two apprentices started and spun around to face the old woman standing in the doorway, leaning heavily on her staff.
“Hello, Agatha,” Joshua greeted. “You should not call the tower magi fools; it will get you into trouble.”
The old woman made a rude noise and an even ruder gesture at the ceiling. “I’ve been a mage from before this tower was raised. Hells, I helped raise the thing, before all the scum started moving in and building those dreadful shanties all around us.”
Both apprentices had heard the old librarian’s angry ramblings before. She was tolerated by the wizards because she could take you to any of the thousands of books in the library located at the end of the hall from the summoning chamber just by telling her what you needed. She had also been here as long as any mage could recall, all the way back to some of the masters’ masters.
“Come along with me, boys, I have a little gift for you,” Agatha ordered, crooking a long bony finger at them.
The two apprentices followed the shuffling old woman down the dark corridor to the library. The brightly lit library stood in stark contrast to the gloomy halls and summoning room. Rich mahogany bookshelves and reading tables filled the chamber.
Agatha shuffled behind a large desk covered in books and scrolls that she was nearly always to be found behind no matter the time of day or night. It was rumored that the old woman never slept and that was one reason why she was completely batty.
She pulled out two worn leather satchels like the type couriers were often seen using to deliver dispatches and mail.
“These are for you but listen well, more than just your own lives may depend on it,” the old crone warned them in her rasping voice. “Do not open them until darkness falls and lights your way, for only when darkness falls will you be able to see the path you must follow.”
The two apprentices looked at each other in confusion then at the old librarian.
“What is that supposed to mean, Aggie?” Joshua asked.
“Hm? Oh, hello boys. Are you looking for a book?” she asked as if seeing them for the first time.
“No, Aggie, what do you mean by being able to see the path only after darkness falls?”
“Seeing the path after darkness falls? I guess you had best have a torch with you. Silly damned question, unless you’re an elf, and you ain’t got pointy ears to be one of them,” Agatha replied.
“Come on, Josh, let’s get going before Mistress Shakrill screams for you to clip her toenails,” Umair said and slung the satchel over his shoulder.
Joshua followed suit, slinging his own bag. “Knowing her, she would make me chew them off.”
The two friends laughed at the joke as they walked out of the library, neither one hearing the old woman muttering, “Gonna need more than a torch to light the path when darkness falls.”
“So what do you think old Aggie meant by that?” Umair asked as they climbed the stairs after checking that the chains were still secure on the captive.
“You got me, but I think we had best do what she says for now and not look in the bags.”
“You think she actually put something useful in here and isn’t out of her mind?”
“I just have a feeling it’s best to do as she says. It doesn’t hurt us to not look in them, which is safer odds than the off chance that she knows what she’s talking about,” Joshua advised.
“I guess so, but if it starts stinking like one of her salami and cheese sandwiches I’m going to open it,” Umair laughed.
Shakrill bent over her scrying bowl, gazing into its black depths.
“Klaraxis.”
“Why are you disturbing me again, little mage?” came the demon’s irritated voice.
“Klaraxis, is that anyway to talk to the one who is going to bring you to the realm of mortals? And I have such a nice present for you,” Shakrill crooned in a fake pout.
“Are you stepping up the summoning? Have you discovered a way to force the planets to speed along their alignment? With such power you would have little use for me,” the demon lord replied.
Shakrill smiled despite the demon’s irksome personality. “Even better, I have found you a more worthy host.”
“Why, have you discovered a fondness for your apprentice all of the sudden?” the Klaraxis asked sarcastically.
Shakrill curled her lip into a sneer. “Hardly, but a young sorcerer dropped in and killed two of my wizards and battered two others. I thought he would make a far better host than that sniveling little apprentice of mine.”
“Hm, a killer—and one of power; I like it, Shakrill. You have done well, mage. I look forward to meeting this young sorcerer.”
“I am glad you are pleased, my demon prince. I look forward to seeing you here next to me, as together we rule this realm,” the dark wizard fawned.
Oh you foolish little mage. I cannot wait to see the look on your face when I devour you and all your little wizard friends. I must save you for last so that I may savor your terror.
“Skunk, get your worthless hide in here!”
The little fire demog popped in with a puff of sulfurous smoke. “Yes, oh great and powerful prince of pits, lord of lost souls, demon of the damned, minister of misery—.”
“Shut up, Skunk, I tire of your false flattery. I know you hate me,” Klaraxis told the little demon.
Skulk had the decency to look shocked. “Hate you, my prince? Never could I feel anything but the utmost joy and honor to serve the likes of your awesome presence.”
“Skunk, if you did not hate me then I would feel that I have not done my part to make your life properly miserable. Do I need to redouble my efforts to obtain a proper level of cruelty, Skunk?”
“I loathe you. I would rather rip off my own wings than spend one more minute with you. You are the vilest creature to have ever inhabited this or any other part of the abyss or any form of hell in existence in this universe or any other. I would sooner eat my own entrails than—.”
“Shut up, Skunk. I need my horns polished. Make sure you use plenty of blood so they do not dry out and flake, and polish them well with the brains of…a fallen priest, that always gives them a nice shine,”
the demon lord ordered.
Skulk turned around and began flapping out of the hall toward the prison chambers, muttering angrily.
“You want me to polish your horns? I’ll polish your horns all right, by ramming then into your guts you bloated piece of—.”
“And, Skunk, do not pop into my chambers again. I have told you I do not like the smell of your stink.”
“Yes, oh omnipotent one, your miserable servant hears and obeys!” Skulk called back over his shoulder. “I’ll leave you stink all right. I’ll drop a big stink under that big chair that’s always propping your big, fat, black butt up. Maybe I’ll use a little of that to polish your horns eh? Leave you walking around sniffing, wondering where that smell’s coming from,” Skulk continued his bitter muttering as he flapped down the gloomy passageways.
CHAPTER 12
Several times during the trip to North Haven, for up to five hours at a stretch, Hati tried to tear free of her bonds. Bones would give her a brew that put her to sleep if she was truly exhausted; other times he dosed her with just enough to put her into a light stupor.
Zeb truly hoped that Azerick or that old wizard Allister could help her. She had already begged him to kill her if they could not free her of the necromancer’s control. He knew he could not do it and doubted that any one of Azerick’s friends would either. Maybe Rusty’s man, Jansen. The man had hard eyes and looked
the sort that would put morality aside to do what needed to be done.
Zeb was not a religious man other than making a few prayers and token offerings to Serron, but he prayed that night before entering North Haven’s port that someone would be able to help the young woman. He was checking on her now, examining the raw, weeping abrasions around her wrists where the cords had rubbed her flesh during her struggles. Thankfully, she was calm as they sailed into the harbor.
Zeb took Toron with him to help in case she started struggling again. It was also dark and no one was likely to be foolish enough to jump him with the hulking minotaur around. He left Balor to oversee the unloading of several bundles of furs, meat, and fish to sell within the city but the bulk of the load would be going to Southport and beyond to Langdon’s Crossing where there was a better market for it after they transferred it to one of the other ships.
Once he delivered Hati to the tower, he needed to find the families of the slain men to give them the fallen men’s death gratuity. It was not the first time Zeb had to perform such a task and he knew it would not be the last. Despite the success of their venture, this was an emotionally painful season.
Zeb paid for a coach to take him and Toron to Azerick’s keep. They had used this particular driver before so the man had no reservations about taking the minotaur on. Before Toron had become known in the city, trying to rent a coach required him to hide next to a building and climb aboard when it stopped for Zeb. No one ever had the guts or gall to demand he get out at that point.
It took only twenty minutes to reach the keep. Zeb, Toron, and the still bound Hati got out at the front gates and called up to the man and boys on watch to open the barrier. They passed through the heightened security with little delay. Toron knocked on the heavy door with a huge fist. His knocking was quickly answered as Rusty opened the outer door.
“Toron, Zeb, what are you two doing here at this hour?” Rusty asked.
Zeb glanced at Hati who was shivering under his arm more from nervousness than the cold. “I have a situation that requires the services of a skilled wizard.”
Rusty glanced at the petite woman almost hidden beneath the blanket wrapped around her shoulders. “You should probably come in and talk to Allister then unless you just need something set on fire,” Rusty said with a grin and opened the door wide for them.
Hati looked in wonder as they entered the reception hall with its glowing chandeliers and fine furniture. Colleen was sitting on the couch holding Elias while Teresa held Trisha on the seat across from her. Hati smiled at the natural scene of two women holding babies and immediately felt more at ease. She had expected something more dungeon-like, like Zagrat’s torture chamber.
“Jansen, would you run down and fetch Allister for me?” Rusty asked.
Hati did not even notice the man that stood in the shadows near the large staircase leading upstairs to the tower levels until he moved. She watched him disappear downstairs before looking around the room some more.
“Hello, Zeb, Toron,” Colleen greeted warmly. “Who is our guest, Rusty?” Colleen asked as she got up and walked toward the group standing near the middle of the room. “You must forgive my husband. He has the social graces of an alley cat. My name is Colleen and this is my cat, Rusty. Welcome to our home.”
“M-my name is Hati,” the young woman responded in a strong accent, staring at the other woman’s proffered hand as if she were holding a snake.
Zeb answered Colleen’s questioning look. “She’s a bit frightened right now is all. I’ll explain it all when Allister comes in.”
As if on cue, Allister and Jansen appeared at the top of the stairs and crossed the room. “Good evening to you both. What brings you and your pretty young guest to see us at this hour?”
“Hati, this is Magus Allister. Hati has a problem that we are all hoping you can do something about,” Zeb started to explain.
“Ah, I see. No need to explain any further,” Allister interrupted as he strode toward them to get a closer look at the mark on Hati’s head.
“I think I do, Magus,” Zeb replied.
“She has a mark of possession upon her and I would wager she would like it removed. I am a wizard of some experience, Captain. I would not question your ability pilot a ship, I would expect the same courtesy given me regarding magic,” the old magus grumbled.
“Well I thought maybe your all-powerful, omnipotent wizard sight might have missed this one,” Zeb snarled as he pulled the blanket off Hati’s shoulders.
Hati spread her wings halfway out in surprise in an instinctual urge to take flight. Gasps of shock erupted from everyone’s mouth at the sight of the young woman with a fourteen-foot wingspan.
“Captain Zeb, I offer my humblest apologies,” Allister muttered and stared at the girl.
Hati’s eyes filled with tears of fear and shame. Colleen passed Elias off to Teresa and wrapped the woman in a fierce hug. “You poor dear, don’t be afraid. You have come to the right place. If anyone can help you it is the magus. Zeb, why are her hands tied like an animal?”
“I would imagine it is because of the mark of possession. Whoever put it on her can control her regardless of the distance that separates them,” Allister explained. “Anyone who would do such a thing is of considerably questionable character and whoever would sew wings on her, assuming she was not born with them, is evil of the highest caliber. Please tell me what you know about what was done to you,” Allister asked Hati in a much gentler tone.
Hati swallowed the lump in her throat and choked back her tears. “It was a hobgoblin named Zagrat. He captures people and cuts off parts of their bodies and replaces them with those of other creatures. Most were dead when he did it. Some, like me, were not as lucky. I was awake for most of it. The pain was so horrible.”
Colleen rocked the poor woman in her arms, her own eyes streaming tears at the Hati’s gruesome tale.
“Please, please help me if you can. I’ll do anything to pay you back, I swear.”
“Hush, Hati, the magus will do everything he can to make things right and we will not hear a word of any kind of payment. You have paid far too much already,” Colleen assured her through her own crying.
“You had best come with me and Franklin to the laboratory right away, Hati. We must first get rid of that mark as soon as possible,” Allister said and pried the young woman from Colleen’s arms.
Rusty and Allister guided Hati down the stairs but her entire body went rigid when she saw the laboratory through the open door. The glass beakers, jars, and bubbling liquids sent flashes of Zagrat’s grizzly chamber racing through her mind. Her face went ashen and she nearly fainted. She definitely would have fallen to the floor as her knees buckled beneath her if Rusty and the old wizard had not been holding her up.
“It is all right, child,” Allister assured her. “This is not where you were hurt. You are safe. You are here with friends. I need you to be calm so that we can help you.”
“He’s in my mind! He knows what you are going to try to do!” Hati screamed, the cords that bound her hands keeping her from grabbing her head in pain and lashing out Allister and Rusty.
“Oh I think not!” Allister said angrily and began chanting the words to one of his spells.
Hati calmed down almost immediately. “He—he’s gone I think.”
“I have blocked him for a time. Long enough for me to do what needs to be done I hope.”
Hati steeled her resolve and entered the laboratory. It was not covered in blood and that made her feel better. Panic gripped her once again when Rusty restrained her to the table but she fought down the dread, telling herself that it was for everyone’s safety.
It was nearly two hours before Rusty and Allister retuned upstairs where Colleen waited with Zeb, Toron, and of course Jansen’s silent presence.
“Were you able to help her?” Colleen asked with concern.
“I was able to remove the mark and its influence,” Allister replied. “It was set quite well and resist
ed my attempts a great deal, but she is free now. She is resting on a cot in one of the rooms downstairs.”
“What about the wings and the claws and everything else that horrible creature did to her?”
Allister took a deep breath and looked thoughtful for a moment. “It is possible that, with the help of some people I have had an acquaintance with in the past, she could be put back to normal or a close equivalent.”
“But?”
“But she asked me not to,” Allister finished.
A look of shock crossed Colleen’s face. “She wants to stay—changed?”
“For now she is content with being free. I think she may get to enjoy a freedom beyond what even you and I will ever experience with her new body. I can understand how that may appeal to someone, someone who never felt entirely welcome and wanted to just—fly away sometimes.”
“Well, if that is what will make her happy then I am happy for her,” Colleen replied. “She must stay with us, for a while at least so she knows she is welcome. I will go see to preparing a room for her.”
With that final declaration, Colleen bounded away to play her favorite role as hostess.
“This place seems to attract the most interesting of people,” Allister mused.
“It’s Azerick,” Rusty stated with certainty. “He’s cursed, or blessed, I’m not sure which. I guess time will tell.”
“Speaking from personal experience I would choose blessed,” Toron said with a grin.
“It sounds like you all are prepared to look after her just fine then,” Zeb said with a trace of reluctance. “We had best be getting back to the docks so we can ship out for Southport before the ice melts in my hold and the fish goes bad.”
Allister squeezed the captain’s shoulder. “You did the right thing, Zeb. She will be just fine with us.”
Toron and Zeb bid hasty farewells and returned to the docks were the crew likely had the bulk of their cargo transferred from the Iron Shark to the much sleeker and faster Dolphin’s Grace.
***
“Joshua!” Shakrill shouted.
The Sorcerer's Vengeance (The Sorcerer's Path) Page 18
