I must give the woman her due – she got her surprise under control quickly. She had already opened her mouth, clearly to ask a question of some kind, but the door sharply swung open.
The magess’ wrathful gaze stopped on the man who appeared in the doorway. I couldn’t hold back a mischievous smile. If that is my guard, he’s done for.
But the man who came into the office like he owned the place was not my guard. Based on the way the magess leapt out of her chair and snapped to attention, whoever had come to pay us a visit was a bigwig.
Handsome. Tall. Prim. Dapper dresser. Based on the telltale eye color – a mage. Obviously from the nobility. Level fifty-three.
“So then, Bet, what have you dug up?” the man said carelessly, his arms crossed behind his back. Without even letting her start, he nodded at me and asked: “Is this him?”
“Yes, your radiance!” the magess answered snappily.
“All this hullabaloo over some little level-zero ragamuffin?” the man asked in surprise. Based on the way he’d been addressed, this man was a Count. He looked me over squeamishly from head to toe and turned to the magess, who was frozen at attention.
“Debrief me!” he ordered.
“Shall we have the arrestee taken outside?”
“Why?” the Count chuckled. “Let him hear. He doesn’t have much time either way. We don’t have long conversations with spies around here.”
I felt the floor go out from under me. But I got myself together quick enough and clenched my teeth and fists. Not today! I’ll find a way to surprise you yet!
“Yes sir, your Radiance! Here is the briefing! Two months ago, the captain of the Gray Martens filed a report saying they’d detained a group of runaway slaves on the border of the Wastes near Dry Gulley. They were led by a strange level-zero boy mage. According to information provided by a companion of his, Tom Steynor to be precise, son of silver-guild merchant Ron Steynor...”
“The same Steynor whose daughter’s hand was given to Baron Lazlo?”
“Correct, your radiance,” Betrinna answered. “The Baron lost a large amount of money in cards. His marriage to the rich daughter of a merchant, Steynor’s only heiress, saved him from debtor’s prison.”
His Radiance chuckled.
“The Snake has come up smelling like roses again. So, now that the merchant’s son has escaped orcish captivity, he has competition for the inheritance?”
“Baron Lazlo has no competitors.”
“How?!” the Count exclaimed in admiration. “Has the Snake enacted some scheme here as well?”
“No, your Radiance,” the magess shook her head. “The Martens were attacked by orcish riders. The merchant’s son died in the fight.”
“The goddess Fortuna never errs,” the Count said thoughtfully and, after coming back to his senses, ordered: “Continue!”
“According to information provided by the aforementioned Tom Steynor, Sarkhaat himself had declared a hunt for the boy mage. And Sarkhaat was behind the trap the Martens just about got caught in. It was a miracle they escaped.”
The Count looked at me again as if for the first time.
“The remaining living rangers have given unanimous reports that the boy mage saved them. He jumped off his horse and engaged the great shaman and his warriors in combat. And here’s the weirdest part – Sarkhaat fled the battlefield.”
The Count’s eyebrows shot upward.
“Continue,” he ordered, quickly getting his surprise under control.
“The next mention of the boy mage comes from several reports made by our investigators in a few baronies. According to several Tradepost refugees they interrogated, our suspect has the ability to summon a dangerous predator.”
I clenched my fists even harder. Looks like they did break Hedgehog in the end. Who else could possibly have known that?
“All that time, from Tradepost all the way to Ironville, he travelled in the company of Gino Leroy and his familiars. He managed to fight off a group of raiders and capture a female Dartan whipsnake.”
The Count chuckled again and suddenly looked coldly at Betrinna.
“Why was the suspect not arrested immediately upon arrival? He spent almost a whole day wandering the capital unimpeded!”
“Our agent, in pursuit of his mercantile interests, reported his arrival only in the middle of the next day,” the magess stated, standing still as a statue.
So it was Gino after all... All the pieces of the puzzle were falling into place. His constant admonishment that we come with him to the capital. Midori’s surveillance. The old man works for the secret chancery on top of owning a gladiator school.
“Don’t forget to remind that dunderhead that he’s playing with fire,” the Count said, pursing his lower lip.
“He’s been reminded, your Radiance!” Betrinna told him.
The Count had no reaction to that information and asked:
“What have you been able to ascertain?”
“The arrestee spent ten days in his cell with no food or water.”
“It’s oddly hard to tell,” the Count said with suspicion in his voice. “Was someone helping him?”
“Out of the question!”
“Then how? Restorative potions?”
“No way! When searched, nothing was discovered in his pockets or bag. No amulets, money or food. Nothing.”
“There’s only one conclusion to be drawn then,” the Count chuckled. “All his belongings are in ephemeral pockets. Am I right?!”
— Attention! You have been subjected to mental magic!
― Attack repulsed!
Seemingly, his Radiance was not expecting that. A mask of incomprehension appeared on his noble visage. To be frank, I was in shock myself! If the Shield of Will still had yet to activate, that could only mean one thing – Gunnar’s amulet was providing Will figures that were easily able to repulse the mental attacks of a level fifty-three mage!
“Senior investigator!” the Count barked. “How am I to understand this?!”
It hurt to look at the once fearsome Betrinna.
“The prisoner is not susceptible to mental magic,” she muttered plaintively.
“I realize that!” the Count continued to roar. “Have you figured out why yet?!”
“N-no, your Radiance,” the magess stated, hiccupping. “My quintessence identifier didn’t reveal a thing...”
“What?!” the Count exclaimed. “You want me to report to his Excellency Sir Chancer that my best investigators cannot read some level-zero boy spy?”
A small mirror appeared in his hand. It looked like the one Master Chi had.
He pointed it at me and an instant later I found myself yet again looking at a mask of incomprehension on his Radiance’s face. I don’t know how it all might have ended, but the iron door thundered open just then. A new actor appeared in the doorway.
It was a man. The polar opposite of the Count. Thickset. Broad-shouldered. Wearing strange fish-scale armor. He reminded me of a bear in some way. Level forty-five. Many scars on his bearded countenance. Despite his swashbuckling appearance, I can see Mind in his attentive gray eyes.
“What do you think you’re doing, Captain?!” Surprisingly, I didn’t hear confidence in the Count’s voice.
“Your Radiance, I am here on an order from his Majesty,” the thickset captain answered calmly. “I will be taking your prisoner.”
Then the captain turned to me and asked gravely:
“I’ve been told you have a message for me?”
Chapter 20
AGAIN A DIMLY lit carriage. Again the unknown. At least I don’t have a bag over my head this time. Thanks for that.
Based on the tilt of the floor and seats – we’re going uphill. Toward the upper circle.
The odd beam of streetlamp light slipping through the cracks in the curtains. That must mean its night.
Captain Isamu Takeda was sitting opposite me and, based on the shuffling of papers, closely reading all the notes he’d requ
isitioned from Betrinna. How exactly is he reading in this low light? Although what am I surprised about? This guy probably has absolutely sky-high Night Vision. By the way, I’m afraid to even imagine who this Takeda might be after seeing the Count from the secret chancery obey him.
A few minutes ago, I gave the captain the messenger amulet Mee had found on Randy’s corpse. I couldn’t see Takeda’s face when he activated the artifact, but his furious wheezing made one thing clear – the message contained something important and obviously unpleasant.
As we rode, I had time to think. The main question: what would the Steel King want with me, son of a miner? I could understand why the secret chancery was interested. They thought they’d caught a spy. How many such suspects are now sitting in secret chancery torture chambers? Tens? Hundreds? Thousands? And is the King himself really going to interrogate all of them personally? Nonsense.
This is clearly something else... And the captain himself is not from the chancery. Based on the way the Count reacted to him – they do not work together. More the opposite.
What was it Takeda said? He’d come “on an order from his Majesty?” The King of Fradia probably had zero inkling of my existence. As a matter of fact, too little time had passed for anyone to have found out anything about me. So what is going on?
By the way, if the captain and Count are not from the same organization, how did the former even find out about me? Gino Leroy again. There’s nobody else. That means the shifty old man must work for Captain Takeda as well. But he swore me an oath of secrecy! Oh gods! And Mee is with that monster right now! My friend doesn’t suspect a thing!
My unhappy train of thought was broken by a sharp jolt. The carriage came to a stop.
The door flew open and a chill night air flew inside.
“You may leave,” the captain muttered calmly. “And hurry. His Majesty does not appreciate being made to wait.”
* * *
Despite the fire roaring in the gigantic fireplace, the study where I was brought was chilly, uncomfortable and dark. I quickly looked around. Not a single candle or lamp lit. The dim light made just a three-foot radius from the fireplace. In that light, I could only see some long shelves packed with books, a broad heavy table and several chairs.
“Don’t turn your head,” Captain Takeda said amicably.
As we strolled down the dark corridors, he was assiduously instructing me on how to behave in the presence of royalty. All that time, my legs felt like cotton. I was beside myself with fear and worry. Soon I will see the legendary Steel King! As far as I can remember, he is the only ruler my father ever had a positive opinion of. He was sincerely delighted when our Prince got engaged to the Princess of Fradia. He said their betrothal would benefit our kingdom. If my father were alive right now, he’d be sincerely astonished to find out where I am.
We had been in the study about an hour and I’d already started thinking the King wouldn’t show. But just then the door flew open and he walked in at a brisk pace.
I could tell it was the Steel King right away. First of all because the captain instantly got down on one knee and bowed his head. I then, having forgotten all the instructions, stood there with my mouth agape like some country bumpkin at a capital-city market. If not for the captain pushing me down, my head would have stayed up.
And secondly because he looked exactly the way I’d always imagined the Steel King. Tall. Broad-shouldered. Standing straight as a jousting lance. Masculine face. A harsh majestic look in dark blue eyes. Artists paint every noble and great king exactly like this.
When I was allowed to stand, I watched the legendary ruler of Fradia’s every move with admiration, unable to fully believe this was all happening to me.
“Captain,” the King finally said. “You made me leave a very important meeting for this. Are you fully cognizant of the fact that you better have a very good reason for that?”
“Completely, your Majesty!” Captain Takeda rapped out, standing at full attention. But I didn’t hear any fear in his voice.
“Debrief me,” the King waved a hand shortly.
“One hour ago, I received a report from the Wastes!”
“Is it the ranger company you sent behind the orcs’ backlines for reconnaissance?”
“Exactly right, your Majesty!”
“What have they determined?”
“Seven months ago, the great shamans of the orcs met with mages from the order.”
“What did they discuss at that meeting?” the King frowned.
“Alas, my people were not able to ascertain that. But I have established for certain that the shamans started assembling a horde immediately after that meeting.”
I was afraid to move a single muscle as I stood there. Even with my meagre understanding of the political situation, I could tell the order of mages had betrayed the Steel King.
“That means those mongrels have long since made up their minds! They probably promised the orcs not to interfere!” Egbert the Seventh roared in anger and stared pensively at the tongues of flame lapping at the scorched walls of the fireplace.
A minute later, he turned to the captain.
“Excellent work, Isamu! Reward your people. They have fulfilled their duty to the crown.”
The captain lowered his head grimly.
“They all died in the Wastes.”
“Then who conveyed the message?” the King asked in surprise.
“This one here,” the captain nodded at me.
“The boy?”
“I just dragged this boy out of the secret chancery.”
The King frowned.
“Captain, you are aware after all that Prince Renard has been buzzing in my ear about your exploits as is?”
To my surprise, Takeda didn’t look flustered or afraid. As a matter of fact, his lips stretched out into a rapacious smile. The King’s tone was quite far from strict, as well. Seemingly, they both found the chancer’s complaints amusing.
“Alright,” the King waved a hand. “Brief me.”
The captain pulled himself together.
“According to the information from my agent, and the notes I reviewed from Secret Chancery Senior Investigator Betrinna Tars, I have every reason to believe this boy is in some way linked with the dead order.”
The King turned sharply in my direction. With the ravening gaze of his dark blue eyes on me, I felt like a delicate moth impaled on a wooden board with a sharp pin. My throat instantly ran dry. I lost my breath.
“Continue,” the King ordered, sizing me up with his gaze. Only then did I notice I couldn’t see his level.
“Summing up all the information, we know the following: despite the lack of external signs, this boy is a mage. While himself level zero, he uses spells and magical abilities most likely of level five or six. He has the ability to summon a pet like the Ancients.”
The last sentence surprised both the King and me. So not everyone could summon pets?
Meanwhile, the captain continued his report.
“For the duration of his travels, he has been using restorative potions and magic traps originating from the dead order. Beyond that, in battle with a Dartan whipsnake, he summoned the spirits of otherworldly creatures. When he arrived in Ironville, with the help of private attorney Madi Belvokrut, he had a debtor’s oath annulled to someone named Bardan, a lanista from Taria. We have received unverified reports that he was planning to sell some loot. He spent ten days in the secret chancery’s prison. All that time, in accordance with standard protocols for particularly dangerous prisoners, he was given no food or water. But based on his overall condition, he was most likely consuming the aforementioned restorative potions. Presumably storing them in an ephemeral pocket. He snapped at his prison guard during interrogation. But what comes next is the weirdest part. Neither senior investigator Betrinna Tars, nor chief investigator his Radiance Count Alcaraz were able to influence the prisoner mentally. Furthermore, their quintessence identifiers revealed nothing. And most importantl
y – the boy can sense Darkness unfailingly. At present, that is all, your Majesty.”
A dry old-man’s voice unexpectedly sounded out from the darkness and made me shudder. I didn’t even notice anyone enter the study after the King.
“Your Majesty, may I?”
A thin robed figure appeared from the shadows. The stranger’s face was obscured by a deep wide hood. A long gray beard and shaky voice pointed to the man’s respectable age. Also, as in the case with the King, his level was not shown.
“Yes, Magister Sato,” Egbert the Seventh nodded.
The Dark Continent (Underdog Book #3): LitRPG Series Page 19
