Fate of the Tyrant (The Eoriel Saga Book 3)

by Kal Spriggs

  He had to dismiss that thought though. Aldolphus seemed arrogant, pompous, and self-inflated, but he did not seem to have any ambition beyond maintaining his own wealth and comfort. The handful of other senior wizards he had met during the tour were much similar. Even the “eccentric” and “innovative” Master Wizard Treggar had come across as lazy and complacent. When Christoffer had asked him what he was working on, Treggar had muttered something about refinement of wizard's shot, as if that were something new and exciting.

  Not that it has even been used in a real battle yet, Christoffer thought, but still, after ten cycles, I would expect they would have moved on to something else. In all, he had not been impressed by the Iron Wizards... especially with how little they had helped him with the Ducal Blade.

  “We need to know more,” Christoffer said finally. “Have you...”

  “Your Grace,” Gervais Wachter said from the doorway. “There's a young man, that is, one of the Iron Wizards, here to see you.”

  “What?” Christoffer asked in surprise. The last thing he had expected was for them to send someone, especially with how secretive their Master Wizards had been.

  “He says his name is Mondragon, your Grace, he says he has important information, for your ears only,” Christoffer didn't miss how uncomfortable Gervais sounded, though Christoffer would guess that it was more from a sense of unease than any genuine fear that the wizard was a threat. Iron Wizards were accomplished in the weapons they made, not in themselves.

  Christoffer's eyebrows went up as he recognized the name as the young man who had spoken up. He glanced at Siara who shrugged, “I haven't contacted him.”

  “Send him in,” Christoffer said.

  A moment later, the young man came in. He carried an ornate wooden box, the lid and sides worked with delicate silver in a pattern that could be either ornamental or magical in nature. Christoffer rested a cautious hand on the pommel of his sword, but he felt no sense of warning.

  “My Lord,” Mondragon said, “Thank you for your time, I know that you are extremely busy.”

  “Not too busy to meet with someone who has important information,” Christoffer answered. “Tell me, what brings you here?”

  “Officially, my lord,” he said, “I've a gift for you.” He set the box down and gingerly lifted the lid. Christoffer gave a low whistle as he saw the finely crafted pair of hand casters within. Both had the sleek look of the Iron Wizards. They had matching ivory grips, with power and discharge crystals linked in a matrix of precious metals. “They're the better part of a full cycle of work in all my free time.” Mondragon's voice went soft as he stared at the two beautiful weapons, “A matching set. They are both designed for use in any circumstances. I experimented a bit with the design, the box can charge them while they're inside, so you can carry one and let the other recharge.”

  Christoffer's eyes widened, “I was under the impression that casters were useless after they were fully discharged.”

  “Most are, my Lord,” Mondragon nodded. “It is possible to design them to be recharged, but it is against guild rules to produce ones like that for sale.” He gave a little grimace, “It is bad for business.”

  Christoffer's face hardened as he considered that. He could think of how useful it would have been to be able to recharge a caster while away from Boirton. How many of his Marines would have survived in a boarding operation if they could have fired off all of their caster's shots, knowing the weapon would be ready for their next battle?

  “Is this general knowledge?” He asked, suddenly furious.

  “No, my Lord,” Mondragon said softly as he looked at his feet. “Only a handful of senior wizards know how to do it. It isn't easy, but it is possible... along with a number of other things that the guild doesn't allow.” Mondragon didn't look up, but Christoffer could see the young man seemed to sink in on himself.

  “Such as spilling their secrets?” Siara asked.

  Mondragon nodded and looked up, “They'll not be happy if they learn I spoke. But there's more than that, secrets that you need to know. Things that can put the entire Duchy at risk.” He looked so distraught that Christoffer felt his own stomach fall.

  “You noticed empty benches, where junior wizards and apprentices are missing,” Mondragon said. “There's dozens, maybe as many as a hundred more throughout the guild hall. And not just juniors, but some seniors and even some Master Wizards who have left.”

  “Where have they gone?” Christoffer asked. He felt an odd shifting under his feet as he thought about that. The Iron Wizards were siphoning away power for some unknown purpose. Now he learned that a tenth of their number had gone missing. What was going on... and why hadn't they brought it to his attention?

  “They've gone south,” Mondragon said, his voice anxious, “they've joined Lord Admiral Hennings.”

  ***

  Chapter IV

  Grand Duke Christoffer Tarken

  The Citadel, Boirton, Grand Duchy of Boir

  24th of Ravin, Cycle 1000 Post Sundering

  “They've what?” Christoffer demanded.

  Mondragon looked back down at his feet. “Several months ago, rumors started to spread. They were cautious, at first. There was talk about how good it would be to be rewarded for hard work and for doing things well. Then there was talk about research into areas that are forbidden by Guild Law. Apprentices sympathetic to those kinds of rumors started to disappear, then some junior wizards. The Master Wizards took notice and then, overnight, Master Wizard Anholt was gone, along with several senior wizards who worked under him.”

  Christoffer sat back as he considered that. He didn't recognize Anholt's name, but that didn't mean much. Until only a few days ago he hadn't known Aldolphus's name. “What are the implications?” he asked, finally. “I've got to confess, I'm not sure I know enough about the capabilities of the Iron Wizards to say what a hundred or so of them could be capable of doing.”

  Mondragon looked uncomfortable, “My Lord... the main thing is that once they have set up both workshops and found a source of power in Freeport, and then they can begin producing weapons. I've seen diagrams and plans for just that, for a time I was on a group that helped to design a possible guild hall in Freeport, but Grand Duke Becket forbade it, so the project never went forward.”

  Christoffer nodded slowly, “So they'll be able to restock and rearm their weapons at the very least. That will make them more dangerous than we planned.” Indeed, Admiral Gerhard planned to use attrition to reduce Lord Admiral Hennings' ability to fight. The hope was that after enough skirmishes, the rebellious Southern Fleet would lose the ability to fight and would be vulnerable to a full scale attack.

  “What worries me more, my Lord,” Mondragon said, “is that many of those who went south were those who chafed under the rules of our guild. Innovators, men and women who had ideas that the Master Wizards thought were too dangerous or foolish to try.”

  Christoffer thought that one through for a long moment. He didn't want to think about weapons considered “too dangerous” by the same wizards who crafted heavy casters and wizard's shot. Still, danger cut both ways. “Perhaps if we are lucky they'll blow themselves up and save us the worry,” he said with a slight smile.

  Mondragon, though, looked worried, “My Lord, many of those who went were young and inexperienced. They weren't bad people, just frustrated and easily influenced. Plus the townsfolk of Freeport shouldn't have to pay the consequences–”

  Christoffer waved a hand, “I understand,” he said, “I should not have made light of the situation. If you could, I'd like you to spend time with Siara and put together a list of names, specialties, and any other information you think important. We will see what we can do.” That, he worried, was little enough. Freeport had become a black hole for information. The last word they had was that there had been some kind of prison break and then nothing after that. Merchant ships which made port were seized and southern trade had dropped to a trickle.

  The fa
ct that Lady Diana's spies had not heard of the defecting Iron Wizards was a bad sign, in his opinion. It either meant that Lord Admiral Hennings had such a tight control over the town that no one dared to pass along the information... or else it meant they had built their workshops in relative secret, probably with collusion of the town's population.

  “Right,” Christoffer said with a glance at Siara, “Perhaps you could explain to me how to use the gift you've given me.” He said it as much for her sake as for his own. While he understood the basic use of a hand caster, he had never actually used one... and he wouldn't mind having her use the two weapons.

  “Of course, my Lord,” Mondragon said. He reached down to take a caster out of the box and Christoffer didn't miss how Tomas and Xander tensed behind him. Mondragon, however, merely aimed the weapon in a safe direction as he pointed out its features. “There is a charge crystal and then a transfer conduit which is runic enhanced to improve energy transfer to the discharge lens. Both weapons are more traditional force casters, they project a lance of kinetic energy.”

  Christoffer nodded, he had seen the effects of force casters from close range. It wasn't pretty what the weapon did to flesh, whether the target wore armor or not. Only runic armor would deflect the energy and even then, it might penetrate.

  “You said force is traditional,” Siara asked, “what other types are there?”

  Mondragon looked uncomfortable but Christoffer gave him a nod and he spoke, “My Lady...” he looked uncertain, as if he didn't know what to call her. He closed his eyes and spoke, as if remembering a lecture. “There are two types of standard caster, force and fire. Fire casters project heat, designed to ignite their targets at short range.” As he spoke, his voice gained confidence. “Additionally, there are a variety of newer casters, designed to utilize energy forms less standard. Magnetic casters impart force on ferrous targets, bending or twisting metal at medium range. Electrical casters are even shorter ranged than fire, but cause widespread damage to living targets and constructs. Gravitational casters utilize gravitic force to create a short ranged but extremely powerful attack, far more devastating than even a force caster. A gravitational caster the size of this hand caster could shatter a man-sized hole in the hull of one of our ships.”

  Siara's eyebrows went up, clearly she hadn't realized how dangerous the weapons could be.

  Mondragon's eyes opened and he gave her a nod, “Of course, you'd only be able to shoot once for a hand caster that size. Even that would probably burn out the conduit and lens in addition to draining the power crystal. If it were crafted by a wizard who wasn't skilled enough, it might well explode. That is why we seldom make such weapons, since they require a great deal of effort for a moderate benefit.”

  “Why do you say that?” Siara asked.

  Mondragon smiled slightly, “My Lady, a human target would be just as dead if he had a one inch hole through him from a force caster as if he were utterly obliterated by a gravitational caster.”

  Siara's eyes narrowed, “But there are other targets, a demon or a god, such a hand weapon would be effective against that all manner of other weapons would not affect.... and that one inch hole way not even slow one of the more powerful demons or effect a spirit at all.”

  Mondragon looked suddenly uncomfortable. “Noric demons have proven resistant to light casters of various types.” He glanced at Christoffer, as if uncertain if he should continue. Christoffer nodded and the young man continued, “There are other weapons to use against spirits, warding runes can damage or drain energy from spirits who cross them are the main techniques we use.”

  Christoffer could see that Siara remained doubtful. Not that he disagreed, entirely. The losses he had suffered at Arkavan, due to the Armen shamans and the spirits they had called on still left him feeling sick to his stomach. The problem was that spirits and other energy based beings could generate effects that weren't direct attacks and so they couldn't be defended against by the runic magic that the Iron Wizards practiced.

  The tidal wave that the Armen had created had started miles off the coast, well away from any defenses that they could have mustered, even if they had been aware. Possibly one of the other schools of wizard might be more effective, but Christoffer didn't know. He had relied on witches in the employ of the Usurper Duke to defend against the Armen shamans, since witches also dealt with beings of energy... but the Usurper had betrayed him. Not something I will forget soon, he thought darkly.

  “Perhaps you can answer another question I have,” Christoffer said. “Master Wizard Aldolphus said that none of the Iron Wizards know anything about other forms of magic. I want to learn more about the Ducal Blade, but its runes are not those practiced by your guild...”

  Mondragon gave him a nod, “Yes, my lord.” He swallowed a bit nervously, “While I would not gainsay anything Master Wizard Aldolphus said, I would qualify it somewhat in that while we have no one who is expert in other runes, many of us do study those runes we can find and that many of our Artisan Runes are based in part or whole upon runes of both High and Dragon runes.”

  Christoffer's eyes went narrow. “You're saying that all Iron Wizards...”

  “Oh, no,” Mondragon shook his head, “not all. But we have a special group within our guild, the scribes, who keep records of the runes we've discovered and understand as well as those we have not yet figured out. The scribes had extensive records of thousands of runes, but some of the scribes are thought of as radical, they've suggested mixing runes of different schools of magic.”

  Christoffer frowned, “I didn't think that was possible.”

  Mondragon smiled slightly, “It shouldn't be, but some scribes have studied writings from the Enclave, who call that form of wizardry 'Unity' and rumor has it that they've begun experimentation. That is one reason that Master Wizard Aldolphus did not wish to tell you.”

  “What's the other reason?” Christoffer asked, feeling his stomach sink.

  Mondragon gave an apologetic smile, “My master, Master Wizard Anholt, was the head of the Scribes. When he left, so did all but one of the Scribes and they took their books with them.” He gave a slight shrug, “I am the last of the scribes within the Iron Wizards, my Lord.”

  ***

  Admiral Elias Wachter

  Admiral Elias Wachter winced as Jeroen Kurth’s shrill complaint seemed to drive through his ear and into his brain. Admiral Gerhard had convinced him to attend the Council meetings in his stead, to provide a source of expertise for Lord Schilt, the Minister of War. The problem, he had quickly found, was that the Duke's Council spent far more time in discussion of other matters than they did of the military. For much of that time, Elias had to fight to stay awake and tried not to think about how much work he couldn't get done while he was stuck in the meetings.

  He felt a surge of relief as Grand Duke Tarken interrupted Jeroen Kurth’s complaints. “We already know the difficulty in finding the money for the additional weapons, ships, and men,” he said. “The problem is that Lord Admiral Hennings isn't operating at the end of a supply line, not like we thought. He has the support of a hundred or more of the Iron Wizards.”

  Kurth looked as if he had bit into something foul, but he didn't argue. Lady Peele, on the other hand, spoke up, “My Lord, you have said that you learned this from one of the junior wizards of their guild. I've spoken with Master Wizard Aldolphus and he assured me that any such statements are pure conjecture...”

  Elias rolled his eyes. A hundred or more of his guild gone missing over the past few months? Where else had they gone, unless to join up with the man who offered them sanctuary and freedom to practice their arts? In some part, Elias sympathized with their motives. As a Restorationist, he and his family had seen their share of persecution. Standing up for ones ideals was not easy. From the report he had read, in Siara Pall's careful handwriting, the Iron Wizards guild had very stringent restrictions on what they allowed and didn't. Those who had defected to Lord Hennings had done so for the chance to re
search freely.

  Not that I imagine they'll find his service any better than that of their guild, he thought. The few rumor they had from Freeport suggested that the rogue admiral ran the city with an iron fist. Anyone loyal to the Duchy instead of just Lord Admiral Hennings had been arrested. Those with family connections had become hostages, but word had got out about disappearances of those without such ties... and of executions for those who publicly opposed Hennings.

  I home my son has managed to keep his head down, Elias thought, but he doubted his eldest would stand idly by while Lord Hennings kidnapped or killed officers and civilians. If his son had fought, though, it was likely that he was already dead. Elias acknowledged that fact... even as he held out hope that his son might still live.

  “... therefore, I suggest that we appoint several noblemen to perform an independent inquiry to ascertain the validity of the young man's statements,” Lady Peele finished her long-winded opinion. Elias had managed to tune most of it out.

  “I appreciate your diligence,” Grand Duke Tarken said and Elias had to hide a smile at his tone. “However, in my opinion, there is no need for such an investigation. Master Wizard Aldolphus has agreed to send a representative to sit on the council, much as Sir Harald, to hear our deliberations, to voice his concerns, but without a vote. In return, he has confirmed much of what Mondragon told me: most of the missing wizards have gone south to Freeport.”

  Silence descended and Elias could see fear form on the faces of those who had opposed the idea. It wasn't that they had really rejected the idea, it was that they didn't want it to be true, since it meant that Lord Admiral Hennings would be far more dangerous.